The NSSN headlines this week’s bulletin with the ongoing disputes by outsourced members of the PCS union in government departments. We support their pay claims and agree with the demand that these workers are brought in-house. We also stand in solidarity with sacked PCS reps at HMRC Benton Park View, and support the campaign for their reinstatement. The Labour Government should act to resolve these disputes and meet the demands, including on pay, in-sourcing and reinstating the sacked reps.
PCS members employed by OCS continue their action – PCS members employed by OCS at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in East Kilbride are continuing and escalating their dispute over pay, terms and conditions. “We continue to call on OCS and the FCDO to act to resolve the dispute. Members at FCDO will hold picket lines outside Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Rd, East Kilbride, G75 8EA from 7:30am to 10am on Monday 28 October until Friday 1 November and then from Monday 4 to Friday 8 November (G4S workers throughout, OCS workers Tuesdays to Thursdays).”Read more. Messages of solidarity can be sent to [email protected]
Support our Facilities Management staff on the picket lines – PCS members working on outsourced contracts with G4S, ISS and OCS walk out in their dispute over pay, terms and conditions. From Monday 28 October, PCS members working for G4S and ISS will begin strike action for two weeks at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, and the Cabinet Office. From Tuesday 29th October PCS members working for OCS at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will commence a further 15 days of action, scheduled to run right through November in a further escalation to their dispute…In East Kilbride, at the FCDO, picket lines will be 7.30am to 10am on Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November and then Monday 4 to Friday 8 November (G4S workers throughout, OCS workers Tuesdays to Thursdays). In London, picket lines are on Monday 28 to Thursday 31 October and Monday 4 to Thursday 7 November. Pickets and times will be:-
- 22 Whitehall, SW1A 2EG from 8am to 10am (ISS and G4S)
- 70 Whitehall, SW1A 2AS from 7.30am to 10am (G4S)
- 10 South Colonnade, E14 5EA from 8am to 10am (G4S)
- 10 Victoria Street, SW1H 0NB from 8am to 10am (ISS and G4S)
- Old Admiralty Buildings, SW1A 2EG from 8am to 10am (ISS and G4S) read more
New strike dates announced for G4S members in jobcentres – The members will walk out for more dates in October and November in their long-running dispute over pay. The PCS members, employed by G4S as security guards in jobcentres, recently voted overwhelmingly to reject the pay offer made by G4S and to take further strike action. The pay offer made was just 32p per hour above the national living wage. Members voted by 84% to reject the pay offer and by 89% for more strike action. The workers have already taken 41 days’ strike action in their dispute, resulting in jobcentres being closed and a reduced service being offered in others. The new strike dates are from 1pm on 18 October to 11:59pm on 20 October, 1pm to 11.59pm on 21 October, from 1pm on 25 October to 11:59pm on 27th, 1pm to 11:59pm on 28 October and 1pm on 1 November to 11:59pm on 3 November, 1pm to 11:59pm on 4 November, 1pm on 8 November to 11.59pm on 10 November and 1pm to 11:59pm on 11 November read more
Campaign to reinstate reps at HMRC Benton Park View continues – Support our rally at Benton Park View on 6 November and sign the new PCS e-petition. The PCS Revenue and Customs Benton Park View branch has called a further members’ rally on November 6 at the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne site following widespread support from PCS members, MPs, the TUC and sister trade unions. The rally is aimed at increasing pressure on HMRC management to reverse the unjust dismissals of Gordon Askew, Rachel Farmer and Joel Hamilton. These reps were dismissed for undertaking trade union activities during a period of industrial action in 2023 as part of the successful PCS pay campaign which led to increased pay awards for PCS members. The Labour government launched the Employment Rights Bill on October 10, promising a New Deal for Working People. If the government is to deliver on this legislation it must end union-busting against workers’ representatives. PCS is urging the government to demonstrate its intention to make good on the New Deal by reinstating Gordon, Rachel and Joel and allowing them to carry out their democratically-elected roles.
Join the PCS rally on November 6 – Meet at the main gate, Benton Park View, Longbenton, Newcastle -Upon-Tyne NE98 1ZZ at noon. Please join us if you can, bringing your branch banners and flags. PCS reps will be leafleting the site from 7:30am the same morning.
Stand with Benton Park View reps – sign the e-petition – You can show your support for Gordon, Rachel and Joel by signing our e-petition to James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, demanding their reinstatement. You can also email your local MP and send messages of support to Steve Swainston, PCS Revenue and Customs group secretary at [email protected]. Email your local MP to ensure they add their support to the campaign read more
Stand Up for Bus Workers demo – Tuesday 5th November (Organised by bus drivers. Supported by Unite)
Assemble: 11:00, Ron Todd House, 33-37 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB
Rally: 13:00, TfL HQ 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ read more
Unions must keep the pressure on for a real Workers’ New Deal and Budget – no new austerity
The NSSN headlined our recent bulletin on the Labour Government’s unveiling of its Employment Rights Bill. We welcome any improvements in workers’ rights in this bill, which is due to come into effect in 2026.
We also welcome the commitment to repeal the most recent Tory anti-union legislation, namely the Minimum Service Levels Act and the Trade Union Act. The latter law enshrines the undemocratic 50% industrial action ballot voting thresholds. However, we call on the Government, with its overwhelming majority of nearly 160, to enact emergency legislation to immediately abolish these brutal laws.
But we also call for the bill to go much further. The POA should have the right to strike for its prison officer members restored. And, all the Tory anti-union laws going back to Thatcher and Major should be repealed.
These laws and their attack on the ability of unions to act collectively outline the main weakness of the Government’s bill.
As Professor Keith Ewing and Lord John Hendy KC have stated in their article in the Morning Star: “The bitter truth is that what working people (half the total population of Britain — with most of the rest dependent on them) need is not more individual rights, welcome as they may be, but greater power. Power to have a real say over the pay, terms and conditions on which they work. That means freeing the trade unions from the shackles imposed in six Acts of Parliament by Thatcher’s crew in the 1980s and ’90s. No-one else will represent workers. And to do that job unions need the power, when necessary, to organise industrial action and compel employers to bargain with them. What is also needed is a framework of laws which support collective bargaining and decent terms and conditions…Much of the Bill is thus about individual employment rights…There are welcome new employment rights and improvements of existing rights. But it does not do nearly enough to remove the restraints on trade unions or to give them the powers they need to make a significant difference to the lives of the millions of workers who are without a voice at work.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has said: “This Bill is without doubt a significant step forward for workers but stops short of making work pay…Failure to end fire a rehire and zero hours contracts once and for all will leave more holes than Swiss cheese that hostile employers will use. The Bill also fails to give workers the sort of meaningful rights to access a union for pay bargaining that would put more money in their pockets and, in turn, would aid growth. Unite will continue to make the workers’ voice heard as we push for improvements to the legislation as the Bill goes through parliament.”
It is essential that the union movement scrutinises the proposed legislation in order to demand that it is strengthened. We also demand a Workers’ Budget – no new austerity, make the rich pay not workers.
The annual TUC Congress in September passed an EIS-led composite motion: ‘End of the hostile environment towards workers and unions’ which included an amendment from PCS – “Congress notes the Labour Party’s 2024 general election manifesto committed to implementing ‘Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay: Delivering a New Deal for Working People’ in full – introducing legislation within 100 days. If the government has not legislated within the first hundred days, a special TUC congress will be called to discuss next steps.”
Such a congress would be an important tool for the unions and their members to draw a balance sheet about the bill and the plan of action needed to fight for a real Workers’ New Deal and Budget.
CRAMLINGTON Train Wreckers Play – tour dates start this Thursday!!
This is OUR history! Incredible response with venues selling out and many almost full. Thousands have attended talks about the General Strike/Cramlington Train Wreckers over the past 18 months, and three thousand have bought tickets for the world premiere of the stage show that opens this week. It’ll rock!
First show: Cramlington Learning Village 4 pm & 7 pm Thursday 7th November, and then Gateshead 8th Nov, Bishop Auckland 9th Nov, Hexham 10th Nov, Barnard Castle 12th Nov, Whitley Bay 13th Nov, Alnwick 14th Nov, Gosforth 15th Nov. South Shields 16th Nov
www.cramlingtontrainwreckers.co.uk
From Strike Map: London book launch & social: A Manual of Industrial Unionism – Join the exciting launch of our reprint of A Manual of Industrial Unionism by William Z Foster 6.30pm on 29 November at Marx Memorial Library more details
Strike Map data report launch – 6pm 5th December Mechanics Institute 103 Princess St, Manchester M1 6DD. Speakers: Sarah Woolley (BFAWU), Dr. Emma Runswick (BMA) as well as the report writers Dr. Stephen Mustchin and Dr. Andy Hodder. Strike Map invites you to a very a special launch of the strike data that they have collected for 2023. This report has been written by Dr. Andy Hodder (University of Birmingham) and Dr. Stephen Mustchin (University of Manchester) and is the first analysis of all the strike data we have been capturing. It will review the data and link it to other sources such as the Office For National Statistics (ONS). All those attending in person will get a copy of the report to take away
Organise Now, are leading a campaign to organise the coffee shop and bakery chain, GAIL’s – they have just announced a week of action on 25 November- 1 December. Click here to join this campaign and sign up for one of the volunteer briefings later this month
Emergency meeting: ‘WHY NHS PRIVATISATION ISN’T THE ANSWER’ – 6:30pm – 8:00pm at the NEU Building, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, WC1H in central London on Wednesday 13 November. The event is a fully hybrid and free event so you will be able to attend on zoom and if you’re in London or nearby, we strongly encourage to attend our event IRL so you can watch the speakers and participate in the Q&A in person! Details
Workers Unity to stop the far-right
The NSSN stood with the rest of the union movement against the violent protests that have whipped by the racist far-right and the fascists. Our supporters have taken part in the many counter-protests that have been taking place that have faced down the far-right. This includes the central London demonstration against Tommy Robinson last Saturday.
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, POA
Summit against racism & the far right – An international event hosted by Stand Up to Racism – 12noon-5pm Saturday 16th November in Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street London WC1B 3LS details
Sign the ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ petition: Put Anti-Racism on the Curriculum
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
Elizabeth Line and Overground staff demand public ownership and reject profit-driven model (4 Nov) – A new RMT survey of over 300 Elizabeth Line and London Overground staff reveals overwhelming support for public ownership. Key findings show that 86% of staff believe their employers prioritise profit over passenger service, while over 90% agree that a publicly owned model would better serve Londoners. Workers report that profit-focused management compromises safety, neglects investment, and manipulates service metrics to boost earnings, with funds benefiting foreign shareholders rather than improving services for passengers. Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary, said: “These survey results underscore what we’ve long known: the private rail model fails Londoners read more
RMT suspends tube strikes after significantly improved offer (1 Nov) – An RMT spokesperson said: “Following intense negotiations with London Underground management and a significantly improved offer, we have suspended the strikes scheduled to start this evening. London Underground have sensibly abandoned their proposed changes to pay structures which now means all our members will receive the same value in any pay award. Further discussions will take place next week regarding the pay offer but progress has been made which would not have been possible without the fortitude and industrial strength of our 10,000 members on London Underground.” Read more
RMT vows mass campaign to protect ticket offices in Scotland (1 Nov) – Rail union RMT, today vowed to launch a vigorous campaign to protect ticket offices in Scotland, after cuts to hours were confirmed in a meeting with Scotrail. The decision to cut ticket office opening hours across Scotland, which will see many ticket offices closed for large parts of the day is wholly unacceptable to RMT. The union warns that the cuts will seriously impact passenger safety, accessibility, and security read more
Unipart Rail’s threats fail to intimidate workers (31 Oct) – RMT members defied unlawful threats by Unipart Rail management by going on strike today over a union recognition dispute. Unipart workers at the Crewe site have a legal mandate to strike in response to the disgraceful decision to derecognise RMT by the company. Despite this lawful vote, Unipart managers reportedly forced the entire workforce into meetings earlier this week, warning that anyone joining the picket line would face disciplinary action. Staff were also reportedly required to sign an attendance sheet to confirm they understood these threats. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “Unipart Rail’s threats to dismiss our members for exercising their democratic right to strike are an outrage and a clear attack on all workers. We will not sit back while our members are threatened and bullied in this disgraceful manner…” read more. Sign petition: To Neil McNicholas – Managing Director Unipart Rail: Tell Unipart Rail to stop De-recognition of RMT Union
RMT responds to the Budget 2024 (30 Oct) – Transport union RMT, today responded to the Budget, the first by a Labour Chancellor in over 14 years read more
DLR security and revenue protection workers strike (23 Oct) – DLR security and revenue protection workers striking in support of unfairly sacked colleague. RMT members working in security and revenue protection for ISS on the Docklands Light Railway are on strike today, in protest against the unfair dismissal of Mmaduka Joshua Obi. Mr Obi, an RMT representative with 15 years of service, was unjustly sacked for defending the rights of his colleagues by the company and the union will not stand for it. The union says he is a victim of a third party dismissal where KeolisAmey Docklands (KAD) who run the DLR insisted that his employer ISS remove him from the contract. This is despite the fact a full investigation by ISS found that Mr Obi should continue in his role
RFA take two days strike action (3 Oct) – Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) seafarers are set to strike on Friday 4 October and Tuesday 8 October due to a long running dispute over pay. While discussions between the RMT union and the Ministry of Defence have been constructive, no satisfactory offer has been made. Further talks are scheduled to take place next week in an effort to resolve the dispute. During the strike, all RFA workers will be standing down from their duties, though essential safety measures—such as monitoring moorings and gangways—will remain in place read more
Heathrow Express 48-hour strike action begins on Monday (20 Sept) – Heathrow Express staff will take 48 hours of strike action, from Monday, in response to a pay offer that was overwhelmingly rejected by members. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the dispute, members will take the action next week read more
ASLEF
Budget 2024: Investing in Rail (31 Oct) – In her first budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer, following the election of a new UK Labour Government in July, Rachel Reeves set out tax and spending plans yesterday in the House of Commons read more
London Tube drivers to strike over pay (16 Oct) – London Underground train drivers are set to strike next month in a dispute over pay, the Aslef union has announced. As well as Tube drivers, instructors, management grade staff and those in the engineering section are to take action. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has also announced industrial action by its members next month. Aslef said train operators and management grade staff would strike on 7 and 12 November, and those in the engineering section for 24 hours from 18:00 GMT on 1 November. Transport for London (TfL) said the action by Aslef and the RMT was “disappointing” but it remained engaged with the unions read more on BBC website
TSSA
TSSA response to ScotRail plans to reduce ticket office opening hours (31 Oct) – TSSA today issued a stark warning that ScotRail’s newly announced plans to reduce the opening hours of 54 ticket offices will increase risks of anti-social behavior and jeopardise the safety of women and vulnerable passengers across Scotland’s railways. ScotRail initially proposed a reduction in ticket office hours in 2022, just prior to its transition to public ownership. However, former Transport Secretary Jenny Gilruth put the plan on hold to allow for comprehensive research on women’s safety in the rail network. Today’s announcement, which came without prior discussion with TSSA or key stakeholders, has been called “a bolt from the blue” by TSSA, which condemns the decision as both regressive and dangerous read more
Budget: TSSA urges government to prioritise investment in UK rail network (30 Oct) – The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) welcomed today’s commitment from Labour to “invest, invest, invest” in Britain’s infrastructure and expressed its support for initiatives aimed at strengthening the economy. The union also called on the government to prioritise investment in the UK’s rail network, including advancing HS2 and bringing rail freight under public ownership read more
TSSA Comment on disabled passenger locked in Oxenholme railway station (29 Oct) – Maryam Eslamdoust, General Secretary of TSSA, has issued a strong statement condemning recent failings in accessibility for disabled passengers on Avanti trains read more
TSSA London Underground members: Pay talks and industrial ballot update (23 Oct) – As you are aware, TSSA Reps resumed pay talks with the company on Friday, 18 October. London Underground have written to the trade unions today, 22 October, providing further clarification regarding the pay offer and pay bands read more
Unite
Unite launches judicial review process over Winter Fuel Payment cut (3 Nov) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has launched a judicial review process on behalf of the union and its retired members to overturn the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment to all but the poorest pensioners. Unite has sent a pre-action protocol letter to Liz Kendal the secretary of state at the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP), requesting the government reverse the removal the Winter Fuel Payment and repeal the regulations introduced in August 2024. The DWP is the department responsible for the distribution of the Winter Fuel Payment. Unite’s case is built on the belief that the government has acted unlawfully and its action will have a terrible effect on millions of older people in society and will likely cause an increase in cold related deaths. The pre-action notice was submitted on 29 October. The government has been given until 7 November to respond to the letter and reverse its decision. If it does not reverse its decision then Unite will seek leave of the High Court to mount a full judicial review read more
Cobh Heritage Centre refuses to implement WRC recommendation after 14-year pay freeze (3 Nov) – Publicly-funded body accused of ‘setting new standard in meanness’. Trade union Unite, which represents workers throughout the economy, today (Sunday) slammed the Cobh Heritage Centre’s decision to disregard a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) recommendation in May that a long-serving worker’s pay be increased to the Living Wage, with the increase backdated to April 2023. Unite took the case to the WRC after the Cobh Heritage Centre – which is funded by Cork County Council – offered the union’s member a pay increase significantly lower than that offered to other workers at the centre. This followed an effective 14-year pay freeze read more
Unite response to Reeves’ budget (30 Oct) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has responded to the Labour government’s budget. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The chancellor has inherited a broken economy that has suffocated our public services and led the UK to being the lowest investment economy in the G7. Having demanded change to the fiscal rules and opposed any return to austerity, we welcome the government’s decision to loosen the borrowing straitjacket and commit substantial new money for our public services. The government must now show the vision needed to use its increased borrowing power to invest immediately in our economic infrastructure to generate jobs. We will need concrete plans and a clear timeline for the fabled 650,000 green jobs. Workers in Grangemouth and the North Sea can’t afford to wait. While we welcome the chancellor’s intention to rule out austerity, the devil will be in the detail.” Unite advocates the introduction of a wealth tax: a policy that has secured the support of both the Labour Party conference and the TUC Congress read more
Guys and St Thomas’ staff in protest against merciless jobs cull (30 Oct) – Workers in trust’s facilities and capital development division face 58 per cent jobs cuts. Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed at the Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust will hold a protest this week against plans to slash a huge number of jobs from the in the Essentia in-house facilities and capital development team. Under the trust’s plans the in-house team covering facilities and capital development including roles such as fire safety, water quality, major projects, maintenance and minor construction work, will be reduced from 154 roles to just 64. To add insult to injury all the workers in the division will be required to reapply for their jobs, with many of the new posts being paid at a lower rate for principally the same work read more
Unite delivers pay win for First Bus workers in Aberdeen (30 Oct) – Two year enhanced pay offer gets support from membership. Unite the union has delivered a new pay deal for around 200 First Bus Aberdeen workers, Scotland’s leading transport trade union confirmed today (30 October). Drivers, coach drivers and administrative staff at First Bus Aberdeen overwhelmingly backed an enhanced 7.2 per cent pay offer from the company which will take effect over two years. The successful negotiations resulted in an enhanced 5.2 per cent offer from August 2024. A further two per cent increase from August 2025 will then run until the end of July 2026 read more
Ford staff in nationwide strike action over pay and contract changes (29 Oct) – Over 1,000 Ford workers in Dunton, Stratford, Dagenham, Daventry and Halewood to strike. A long running dispute at Ford over pay and contract changes involving over 1,000 administrative staff has escalated into strike action beginning tomorrow, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Ford has failed to offer its workers a permanent pay increase. Instead, the company has offered many of its office workers a one-off payment for 2024 and wants to impose 100 per cent performance related pay from 2025 for all staff read more
MEBSCA dispute: WRC issues invitation to Unite and employers (27 Oct) – Union agrees pause in industrial action pending engagement. Unite, which has been in a trade dispute with employers belonging to the Mechanical Engineering & Building Services Contractors’ Association (MEBSCA) since early September, has accepted an invite to talks from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The dispute centres on Unite’s claim for restoration of the first hour of ‘travel time,’ which was cut in the wake of the 2008 financial crash. The WRC has invited both parties to exploratory talks to establish if circumstances exist for a pathway forward read more
Stagecoach drivers in the Scottish Highlands and Islands back strike action (25 Oct) – Around 200 Unite members set to bring bus services to a stop after ‘unacceptable’ pay offer. Unite the union can confirm today (25 October) that around 200 Stagecoach bus drivers are set to take strike action in a dispute over pay which could bring bus services across the Highlands and Islands to a stop. Stagecoach Highlands bus drivers overwhelmingly supported strike action. The mandate for action follows an empathetic rejection of a pay offer made by the bus company which is based in Inverness. Any industrial action would impact on Stagecoach services in Skye, Orkney, and to the north and west of Inverness read more
Southampton hospital porters denied toilet and period dignity (25 Oct) – Hospital porters employed by University Hospital Southampton will begin balloting for industrial action from Monday (21 October) due to appalling levels of bullying and harassment. The 59 porters, who are members of Unite the UK’s leading union, have been informed they’re required to notify their managers before and after they go to the toilet. Staff who have periods are further required to inform management during their cycle in order to be granted additional toilet time. The porters who walk vast distances across the hospital premises, are denied breaks so they cannot drink water, even during high temperatures. In addition, management have removed chairs, so that porters are prevented from sitting down when waiting to move patients read more
Llanelli Gestamp auto workers to strike over poverty pay (23 Oct) – Strikes to severely impact Nissan, BMW, JLR, Aston Martin and INEOS. Strikes by Llanelli Gestamp workers will severely impact the supply of critical metal components to Nissan, BMW, JLR, Aston Martin and INEOS, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Around 200 workers on various grades will begin strike action later this month over unacceptably low pay rates by Gestamp. The Spanish-based company brought in revenues of €12.3 billion in 2023 and reported a profitability (EBITDA) of €1.4 billion. Despite Gestamp’s huge wealth, many of the workers at the Llanelli factory earn the national minimum wage and will only be taken slightly above it under the company’s current offer…Strikes will take place from 28 October to 11 November. Industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved read more
Unite local government workers to continue local pay disputes (23 Oct) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has confirmed that it will fully support its members who have secured an industrial action mandate. The union’s decision follows the announcement yesterday that the other local government unions have accepted this year’s ‘Green Book’ national pay offer, which covers the majority of workers in the sector. Unite recently completed balloting its local government members. Where it has secured an industrial action mandate it will go ahead with strike action on a council by council basis. Further details of this industrial action will be announced in due course once it is agreed with local members…In addition to the local industrial action Unite will also be focussing on local government funding. Several councils have effectively filed for bankruptcy, many others are on the verge of doing so while most have been forced to cut essential services read more
Marshalls construction materials workers ballot for strikes across England (22 Oct) – 300 workers in West Yorks, Cleveland, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Lancashire reject derisory pay offer. Workers employed by construction materials manufacturer Marshalls at sites across England are being balloted for strike action, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers have rejected a ‘derisory’ pay offer of a one-off non-consolidated £700 payment for 2024. Marshalls annual report for 2023 states it brought in revenues of £671.2 million and had an adjusted operating profit of £70.7 million. Chief executive Matt Pullen, who joined the company in March, is paid a salary of £580,000…The ballots for strike action at five of Marshall’s sites opened yesterday and will close on 11 November. The sites are located in Halifax in West Yorkshire, Stockton-on-Tees in Cleveland, Sandy in Bedfordshire, St Ives in Cambridgeshire and Ramsbottom in Lancashire read more
West Midlands Citizen Housing strikes impact maintenance services for 30,000 homes (21 Oct) – 200 repair workers in Birmingham, Coventry, Hereford and Worcester walk out over pay. Citizen Housing’s gas engineers, electricians, construction workers and admin staff will begin strike action over pay this month, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers are angry at a derisory four per cent pay offer from Citizen Housing, which had a turnover of £192.6 million and an operating surplus of £48.3 million for 2023/24. Even with the four per cent offer, some workers will still only be on the national minimum wage. Meanwhile, Citizen Housing’s tradespeople are furious that years of falling wages in real terms have left them being paid thousands of pounds below industry standards. The housing association is trying to justify keeping wages low because it enacted a long overdue reward review scheme in May over terms and conditions. But this is totally separate from annual pay negotiations…The workers will strike on 28 October and 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 and 29 November. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more
Striking workers to march to Spalding town centre as Bakkavor dispute continues (21 Oct) – Hundreds of striking workers from the Bakkavor food production factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire, are to march to the town centre this week. Unite members who have been on strike for three weeks in their fight for fair pay will congregate in Spalding on Tuesday. They will be seeking to gather further support from their local community. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham visited the picket line on Wednesday 16 October to give workers a morale boost in their dispute. She was greeted by hundreds of workers outside the factory who made their voices heard in their ongoing dispute read more. Send messages of support to [email protected]
Princes “in a pickle” product shortages predicted in pay dispute (18 Oct) – Unite members at the Princes food production factories across the country are balloting for industrial action over pay that could see popular household staples disappear from shop shelves including big supermarkets like Sainsbury, Tesco, Waitrose M&S, Asda, Lidl and Aldi. Over 800 workers at five sites (Long Sutton, Wisbech, Cardiff, Bradford and Glasgow) are being balloted after rejecting a pay deal from the company’s new owners that would leave them worse off than the offer promised by the previous owners. Princes produce tinned meats, fish, vegetables, sauces, soups and soft drinks for some of the most well-known household brands including Branston, Crosse & Blackwell, Napolina and Batchelors. If workers agree to take strike action, many of these products could quickly become unavailable in shops. Unite’s members who work as line operatives and engineers had been offered between a 4-7 per cent pay rise dependent on salary by the previous owner, Mitsubushi. The company was subsequently bought by Newlat S.p.A who withdrew that offer. Instead they are offering just a three per cent pay rise. Staff at the factories, are furious at this behaviour and after attempts to negotiate with the employer failed are now balloting for strike action. The ballot opens on 24 October and closes on 19 November read more
Valley Vets closures expose UK vet giant’s profiteering from animal lovers (17 Oct) – Closures a reaction to historic strike action in South Wales over poverty pay and overcharging of pet owners. VetPartners’ closure of four Valley Vets surgeries shows the damage the private equity giant is willing to do to a 40-year-old animal healthcare service so it can continue to overcharge and underpay workers, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. VetPartners said permanently closing four surgeries in Cardiff, Caerphilly, Pentyrch and Ystrad Mynach was necessary because of long term vet shortages. It has moved all services and workers to its animal hospital in Gwaelod y Garth. The company also announced a small number of redundancies, which Unite believes to be the equivalent of around six full time roles. The surgeries had been closed temporarily, in reaction to historic strike action by Valley Vets staff angry about poverty pay and the overcharging of pet owners. In the last two years alone, Valley Vets’ prices have increased by around 25 per cent read more
Unite leader to address striking Oscar Mayer workers in Wrexham (17 Oct) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will address Wrexham Oscar Mayer workers striking over fire and rehire on Friday (18 October). More than 500 Oscar Mayer workers began indefinite/all out-strike action in early September because they stand to lose up to £3,000 a year under the company’s fire and rehire plans. Oscar Mayer wants to fire and rehire the workers in order to remove some paid breaks, reduce other breaks and eradicate any enhanced payments and days off in lieu for working bank holidays read more. Send messages of support to [email protected]
Send messages of protest to [email protected]
Crisis in Haringey housing department leads to continuous strike action (14 Oct) – Housing maintenance and repair workers at Haringey council begin strike action tomorrow over the continued crisis within the council’s housing department.
Unite’s members haven’t had a pay rise in over a decade despite a cost-of-living crisis and inflation running rampant in recent years. The lack of pay increases for productivity is estimated to have left workers over £6000 out of pocket. Following previous industrial action this year, and with no sign of the council listening or negotiating, workers have been left with little choice but to escalate their industrial action to a continuous strike from 15 October. Unite has compiled a “dodgy dossier” following years of broken promises by management to meaningfully negotiate with union members on pay, terms and conditions read more. Send messages of support to [email protected] and messages of protest to: [email protected] Haringey Council CEO and Council Leader at [email protected]
Newham ICT workers balloted on strike action over outsourcing plans (14 Oct) – Vital workers set to down tools this autumn over “catastrophic” privatisation scheme that could put resident’s data at risk. Unite members working for Newham council’s ICT department are being balloted over potential strike action this autumn after the council announced plans to outsource the department – putting jobs at risk and endangering residents’ data. Following the release of a previously withheld report documenting the council’s plans for the ICT department, workers reacted with dismay at Newham’s shortsighted plans. The main issue with Newham ICT is the lack of resources as no recruitment has taken place since 2012 to fill vacancies. There are currently around 45 full time staff and a number of posts being covered by contractors. The current business case clearly outlines a staffing capacity of around 130 to deliver the aspirations of Newham. While councils across the country have recognised the cost of outsourcing and have begun returning ICT departments in-house, Newham will now buck this trend because it claims to be unable to attract staff because its pay and conditions are “poorer than elsewhere” read more
Knowsley housing workers announce strikes over low pay (7 Oct) – Residents living in Livv Housing are braced for serious disruption to housing services from later this month as over 200 workers begin industrial action in a dispute over pay. The dispute is a result of workers experiencing many years of below inflation pay rises. As a consequence, the workers have rejected a pay increase of five per cent because this does not reverse the real terms pay cuts they had previously experienced. The two initial days of strike action have been called for Wednesday 16 October and Wednesday 23 October. An overtime ban will also be in place on both 16 October and 23 October read more
Strikes to escalate at Fareham aerospace company with new dates announced (4 Oct) – Workers at Eaton Ltd manufacturing to stage further walks out over pay. Approximately 150 highly skilled aerospace workers in Fareham, Hants, are escalating their strike action after their employer, Eaton Ltd, continued to fail to make a pay offer that would bring them in line with industry averages. Unite members at the company voted overwhelmingly for strike action at the factory which produces essential parts and products for the aerospace sector. Fitters, technicians, supervisors and other staff will strike on the following dates: 16-19 October, 21-26 October, 29 October–1 November, 4-9 November, 11-16 November read more. Send messages of support to [email protected]
Doncaster First Bus cleaners join striking Sheffield colleagues in pay dispute (3 Oct) – First Bus real living wage employer but Bidvest Noonan contractors in Sheffield and Doncaster on poverty pay. Doncaster First Bus cleaning workers have joined striking Sheffield colleagues in their dispute over poverty pay. The Doncaster Bidvest Noonan workers voted overwhelmingly in a consultative ballot to join the dispute over their wealthy employer’s refusal to pay the real living wage of £12 an hour, despite First Bus contractors being obligated to do so. Cleaning and refuelling workers employed by Bidvest Noonan on behalf of First South Yorkshire at Sheffield’s Olive Grove depot began industrial action in September after being told their wages will not be increased above the legal minimum of £11.44 an hour. They are now ramping up strikes and will be joined in the coming weeks by their colleagues in Doncaster, who will soon begin a formal ballot for industrial action read more
Ealing parking free for all as traffic warden strikes intensify into November (3 Oct) – Council refusing to recognise traffic wardens’ union despite working with it to insource service. Strikes by Ealing traffic wardens will intensify from next week in a dispute over union recognition, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Around 40 parking services workers employed by council-owned Greener Ealing Ltd have been on strike since late August over their employer’s refusal to recognise their long-term union Unite for pay and other matters. The workers were previously employed by Serco before being transferred to Greener Ealing Ltd earlier this year. Their roles are completely different to the rest of Greener Ealing’s waste management workforce. As a distinct group, they want Unite, which has represented the workers for a decade, recognised for collective bargaining on their behalf read more
Altrad workers at Sellafield to strike over broken pay promises (2 Oct) – Unite members offered four per cent less than previously promised by employer. Vital workers operating at Sellafield are to strike this month following a string of broken promises from their employer, Altrad Services. Unite members at the site, who are responsible for access and maintenance of the Fellside site which produces steam for the wider Sellafield site next door, are taking industrial action from 10-15 October, 17-22 October and 24-29 October 2024. Workers at the site are furious that their employer, Altrad Services, has reneged on previously agreed pay deals, potentially costing workers thousands of pounds. Members were originally advised and agreed to a 11.3 per cent rise in January 2024. Prior to that during the cost of living crisis, Altrad paid an additional four per cent salary increase which staff were told was permanent. However, Altrad have only now given members a 7.3 per cent rise, rather than the agreed 11.3 per cent – the reduction being the same as the cost of living increase. This broken promise and backtracking has caused outrage among staff who have been left with little choice but to take industrial action read more
Waterford City and Co Council: Stoppage by members at Dunmore Depot deferred pending engagement with management (1 Oct) – Dispute surrounds unilateral change to work practices. Unite, which represents members working for Waterford City and County Council, today (Tuesday) said that it has deferred a 24-hour work stoppage by Unite members at Dunmore Depot in Waterford, which had been scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), as a gesture of good faith ahead of local engagement with management next week read more
Biomedical scientists in Yorkshire to strike over unsustainable workloads (26 Sept) – Unite members in York and Scarborough hospitals to walkout over fears about patient safety. Biomedical scientists at hospitals in York and Scarborough are to take strike action this autumn in protest over unsustainable workloads that are putting patient safety at risk. Microbiologists at York Hospital and blood scientists at Scarborough & Bridlington Hospital, both part of the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, have been forced to continually deal with workloads far beyond safe levels. Following a successful ballot, they will be taking strike action on 30 September, 7 October and 11 October 2024 read more
Veolia Sheffield dispute escalates with Paris and Yorkshire protests (24 Sept) – Refuse Workers to lobby the Leeds and York NHS Foundation Trust Board of Directors in Leeds. Striking Veolia refuse workers will be joined by Unite members representing different parts of the region in lobbying the Leeds and York Foundation Trust Board of Directors about their financial partnership with Veolia through the North of England Commercial Procurement Collaborative funding framework (NOE CPC) and against Veolia’s treatment of their employees by refusing to recognise their union for collective bargaining. This is the beginning of an escalation of the dispute as there have been stories of intimidation and the sacking of Unite members in the Veolia depot in Sheffield who are involved in legitimate and lawful industrial action. Sheffield refuse workers and Unite delegates visited Paris on Friday last week to deliver a clear message to Veolia HQ as their campaign for union recognition enters a new phase. Noisy protests took place at the new Veolia headquarters in Aubervillier on the northern edge of Paris read more
School staff to strike in Greenwich over job cuts and restructure, say unions (9 Sept) – Mulgrave School workers will walk out over threat to their livelihoods. Dozens of support staff at a London primary school are to strike on Wednesday (11 September) over a proposed restructure that would lead to 14 job cuts. Teaching assistants and other workers at Mulgrave School represented by Unite, GMB and Unison are walking out in response to Greenwich Council plans that involve scrapping flexible working arrangements, creating additional unpaid duties and cutting the pay of remaining workers. Staff represented by the three unions are furious at the plans and will be on the picket line to make their voices heard. The school and local authority have repeatedly failed to disclose the accounts to justify any restructuring and have called in neighbouring Hackney council to help support the restructure due to a lack of resource and expertise within Greenwich council read more
Unite will escalate ABC council dispute (5 Sept) – Bin workers based at Armagh depot suspend strikes but union members stand ready to defend reps. ABC council senior management have presided over a ‘hostile environment’ for union reps and their behaviour is ‘shameful’. Unite members employed in waste collection at the Armagh depot have voted to suspend a seven-week strike taken in response to the sacking of their union rep. Unite has vowed to continue to pursue justice for its sacked shop steward through all available avenues, including at employment tribunal where the council will have to justify its decision. The strike action will be suspended from midnight [Thursday] tonight with employees returning to work tomorrow. In a meeting notifying management of the decision to suspend, union officials demanded the council conduct an audit into its industrial practices, which they have agreed. The union has described the behaviour of senior council management at Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon (ABC) council towards its team of workforce reps as ‘shameful’ and warned that any further aggression towards its reps or to the jobs, pay, terms and conditions of its members will be completely opposed by workers read more
Support the Sanctuary workers – contact the Unite LE/1111 Housing Workers branch to offer support or if you are a housing worker wanting to get organised [email protected]. “At Sanctuary Housing we are also campaigning for recognition. Sanctuary is a massive employer. It has 14,000 members of staff but currently recognises no union. Scandalously this organisation receives millions of pounds in public money. Shamefully much of this money comes from Labour authorities. No Labour authority should hand out contracts to union hostile employers! You can help us in our fight by dropping a few Join Unite@Sanctuary leaflets at your local Sanctuary care home, supported living or estate office. Message me via this platform, personally or via email if you can help. [email protected]. You can search your nearest Sanctuary workplace via this link: https://www.sanctuary-supported-living.co.uk/
CWU
Capita TVL BBC contract members to vote on strikes (1 Nov) – Industrial action ballot process begins, after employer refuses to offer pay rise. “We’ve now entered a formal Trade Dispute in accordance with the law, as a consequence of Capita imposing a pay freeze on our members working on the TVL / BBC Contract,” CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey told CWU News this morning. Nearly 500 CWU members are set to take part in the ballot, which asks two questions, on strike action and action short of a strike (ASOS). Ballot papers are being sent out next Friday and the result will be declared on Tuesday 3rd December read more
CWU LIVE – How Unions are Reshaping Tech (31 Oct) – in this Tech Sector takeover of CWU LIVE hosted by National Officer John Chadfield, we cover the latest on Elon Musk’s dispute with the Brazilian government, explore the absurdities of subscription-based car features, and share some good news about potential changes to union recognition thresholds in the UK. We’re also joined by UTAW’s Brad Corrigan, Monzo Data Analyst, and grassroots union organiser for Sveriges Ingenjörer (Engineers of Sweden) Kim Oberg, who shares her insights on tech sector organising and Sweden’s labour laws read more
PCS
You can show your support to the strikes by PCS members by:
- Making donations to the PCS Fighting Fund Levy account, sort code: 60-83-01, account no. 20331490
- Sending solidarity messages to [email protected]
Met Police members to be balloted for strike action (1 Nov) – The dispute is over the imposition of a new hybrid working policy that increases the time staff must attend an office. PCS has served notice on the Metropolitan Police to ballot over industrial action. The dispute is over the imposition of a new hybrid working policy that seeks to increase the time staff have to attend the office. The increases range from 60-100%. The staff affected are civilians who support the day-to-day work of police officers. The ballot will open on 6 November and close on 10 December read more
HMRC Pay (31 Oct) – PCS has formally rejected HMRC’s pay offer but HMRC has confirmed the pay award will be implemented in November salaries. The HMRC chief executive has today (31) confirmed that the 2024/25 pay offer will be implemented in November salaries read more
PCS responds to Budget (30 Oct) – PCS has responded to the Labour government’s first Budget statement, accusing it of giving with one hand and taking with the other read more
PCS members in DBS Customer Services to be balloted for strike action (22 Oct) – Staff are angry that new systems are being introduced without proper consultation. Over 50 PCS members working for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in Liverpool are to be balloted for strike action. The staff who work in customer services are in dispute over the planned introduction of a new customer contact model and outsourced work read more
Enforced roster changes leave Heathrow Border Force members feeling suicidal (3 Sept) – PCS members working at passport control at Heathrow Airport have reported major adverse impacts to their family life, physical and mental wellbeing as a result of enforced roster changes. Amongst over 250 responses to our survey, PCS members were unequivocal in their condemnation of the changes to the roster, with several members reporting that not only were they finding it difficult to maintain a work life balance, but that several had lost access to their children completely…Members on the picket line at Heathrow airport during the four days of strike action that finish today have been holding signs with personal testimonies, including: “I’m so tired that I’m scared I’ll make a mistake” and “The shifts are so long that I just never feel like I have a break from work.” After a solidarity visit to the picket line from Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell, , members are more determined than ever. Plans are in place for more parliamentary work to help bring the dispute to the attention of the new government. The members will now follow a work-to-rule and overtime ban until 22 September read more
Use the e-action to fight de-recognition of PCS at the Imperial War Museum – 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
It was always going to be a tough Budget but investment in growth is welcome (30 Oct) – The Chancellor of the Exchequer has revealed her first Budget, the first ever by a female Chancellor read more
FDA
Budget response: FDA welcomes HMRC investment but raises concerns over ongoing departmental efficiencies (30 Oct) – The FDA is pleased to have provided the blueprint for the Chancellor’s announcement in today’s budget on tackling the tax gap, by investing in 5,000 additional HMRC compliance staff and providing the money to modernise the department’s technology. These announcements follow our Funding the Nation report from the FDA’s HMRC section – the Association of Revenue and Customs – which demonstrated how a new government could return £11.3bn by investing in compliance, customer services and improving technology. The union additionally raised concerns over already-stretched departments finding ongoing productivity targets read more
GMB
GMB Responds to ‘Serious Budget’ (30 Oct) – GMB Union has responded to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget, delivered today read more
Ramadan headscarf workers vote to strike (17 Oct) – Ramadan headscarf workers have voted to strike over poor pay and punishing targets. Dozens of worker at Lappet Manufacturing, in Carlisle, will walk out on the following dates:-
30 and 31 October, 2 and 3 November, 6 and 7 November, 9 and 10 November, 13 and 14 November, 16 and 17 November. These skilled workers – who specialise in weaving high end headscarves for the Saudi Arabian market – need years of experience to meet required standards read more
Winter walk-out headache for British Gas over supplier strike (15 Oct) – Strike action by contractors in the energy giant’s supply chain could lead to delays, says GMB. GMB Union has announced today that workers at British Gas supplier TVS Supply Chain Solutions have voted overwhelmingly for strike action. More than 90 per cent of workers rejected the company’s pay offer and were willing to take industrial action, which comes after 10 months of talks and a three year pay-freeze for TVS staff. The company provides parts and maintenance support across British Gas home heating products, including home boilers and metering. Around 150 workers at the company’s Leicester and Coventry HQ are expected to take eight days of strike action between 18 – 21 and 25 -28 October 2024 read more
Tetley’s workers walk out again (9 Oct) – Tetley workers will walk out again today as GMB announce 12 more strike dates. Almost 150 GMB members working at Tata Consumer Products, which makes Tetley Tea in Teesside, will down tools in anger at ‘poverty pay’. Dates of further industrial action, likely to be during the next two months, will be announced in the coming days read more
Brighton & Hove Council refuses talks on multi-million pound equal pay claims (10 Oct) – Any hope that the employer would engage with GMB union early have been dashed – now staff must make legal claims. Brighton and Hove Council has refused to talk to workers about their multi million pound equal pay claim, GMB Union has said. GMB members at the council have submitted equal pay claims on the advice of their union. The claims relate to historic underpayment of roles within the council, predominantly carried out by women. In less than a week, the deadline to submit claims – potentially worth thousands of pounds each – will expire. As part of the equal pay process GMB has not only written to the council requesting talks but also asked the Government’s independent conciliation service Acas to facilitate talks. To date the council has refused to engage with GMB or Acas read more
‘Penny-pinching’ in store could lead to strike action if management don’t take action, says GMB (7 Oct) – Members of GMB, the union for Asda, are warning management at the Trowbridge store that they are prepared to take strike action unless conditions improve. In June 2024, a majority of staff in the store submitted a grievance about poor management at the store, and inadequate staffing levels. GMB then carried out a consultative ballot, which showed that members were in favour of taking action if matters do not improve. Complaints made by members include the music being played over the PA system ‘like being stuck in the lift at an undertakers’ and more generally that morale at the store is very low read more
Asda Skelton faces strike (18 Sept) – Asda Skelton faces strike action after workers voted to walk out. More than 110 staff at the store will talk industrial action in anger at health and safety issue, a loss of working hours in the store and the wider fight for equal pay. A protest will take place outside the store tomorrow [September 19] at 11.30am. The ballot saw a total of 575 per cent of GMB members vote to walk out. Strike dates will be announced in the coming days read more
Farmfoods faces frosty future as workers down tools (19 Sept) – Workers at fast growing food retailer will take strike action on Monday. GMB Union has today announced that Farmfoods workers at a Solihull distribution centre will take part in a two-day walkout in a dispute over pay, conditions and union rights. The campaign to improve conditions has already seen work rates fall by over 15%, but workers are furious after company managers have turned down requests for union recognition and fair pay. The strike action will take place on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 September, with around 100 workers expected to take part read more
Consultative ballot open for Wexham Park Radiographers (17 Sept) – Stakes rise as radiographers at Wexham Park Hospital vote to protect NHS service provision. Members of GMB, the union at NHS Frimley Health Foundation Trust, are voting in a consultative ballot in a dispute against the outsourcing of radiology services. The proposed contractor, InHealth, already provide some Diagnostic and Imaging Services to the NHS and run contracts worth over £300 million per year. The union members are employed as Radiographers, Radiology Assistants and associated support staff at Wexham Park Hospital near Slough. A grievance has previously been submitted to the Trust’s Chief Executive Lance McCarthy and Chairman Bryan Ingleby, with a formal meeting date to discuss concerns yet to be scheduled. The ballot opened on Friday and remains open until Friday 27 September and may lead to a formal industrial action ballot, pending the result read more
Leicestershire faces waste chaos as strike action looms (11 Sept) – Workers in the County’s tips are balloting for industrial action. GMB Union has today announced that workers in Leicestershire waste and recycling centres will begin balloting for strike action. The news comes after Leicestershire County Council announced plans to slash wages by as much as £1300 for workers at the sites in a bid to cut spending. Around 50 workers are expected to take part in the vote read more
Concrete makers escalate strike as fat cat bosses wine and dine (6 Sept) –Dozens of GMB members at Acheson & Glover’s (A&G) Toome are escalating industrial action. Further strike action comes after ‘fat cat’ bosses were wined and dined and a swanky awards ceremony. The workers, who make up more than 70 per cent of the workforce at the plant producing pavers and flagstones, will begin their fifth week of strike action on Monday [9 September]. The dispute arose when staff were offered a 2.5 per cent pay increase for 2024/2025, representing a real terms pay cut with RPI inflation at 3.1 per cent. The company announced pre-tax profits of £3.4m, while this week bosses wined and dined each other at a lavish awards ceremony 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 –
UNISON Scottish Police Staff members have voted to REJECT the pay offer and are willing to take industrial action to secure a fair and reasonable pay deal PoliceStaffScotland @UNISONPSS on X/Twitter
A grown-up budget to rejuvenate public services and turn the page on Tory failings, says UNISON (30 Oct) – “Rachel Reeves has hit the reset button, erasing the Tory shambles and misery of the past.” Read more
Minimum wage boost welcome but has pay implications for the NHS and other key services, says UNISON (29 Oct) – New legal minimum more than the current lowest hourly rate in some public services read more
Fury as leaked video shows ESNEFT boss telling staff at outsourcing would go ahead regardless (29 Oct) – Health workers striking to stay in the NHS are up in arms after a leaked of the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) chief executive surfaced suggesting the decision to privatise jobs had been made months ago, says UNISON today read more
Support the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS support staff strikes – Cleaners, caterers, porters, housekeepers and other East Suffolk and North Essex support staff are striking to stay in the NHS. They want to defend the quality of services they provide to the public as well as their own pay and conditions read more
Plans by Essex trust for mass outsourcing of NHS services are out of order (18 Sept)
Support Manchester EIS Strike by Unison and Unite members – Mental Health workers in Early Intervention in Psychosis will be on strike. It’s not over pay, which is not enough, but over serious concerns for the service, it’s users, & the community. Show your support. @MancStrikeNHS. Picket line: Friday 8th & Monday 11th November , 8am -11am outside Prestwich Hospital, M25 3BL
Strikes will close schools for two weeks in first minister John Swinney’s constituency (8 Oct) – UNISON, the largest local government union, has notified Perth and Kinross Council that schools and early years centres will close for two weeks from 21 October, in a pay dispute that affects all council staff in Scotland, the union says today (Tuesday) read more
Workers at Livv Housing to strike as pay and conditions row heightens (7 Oct) – HUNDREDS of workers at a housing association are set to go on strike next week as a dispute of pay and conditions intensifies read more on website of St Helens Star
Local government strike ballot could be extended to more workers (10 Sept) – Scotland’s largest local government union is considering widening its strike ballot to more than 90,000 staff in councils and associated services over pay. The move comes after all council workers in the union overwhelmingly rejected Cosla’s latest pay offer in a consultative ballot a week ago read more
Council workers vote overwhelmingly to reject latest pay offer (3 Sept) – Council staff in Scotland belonging to UNISON have voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest pay offer from local government employers, says the union today (Tuesday) read more
Strike ballots to be issued to staff working in social care charity (6 Sept) – Hundreds of staff working for Enable, one of Scotland’s largest charitable social care providers, are to be asked if they’re prepared to strike over pay, UNISON says today (Friday). UNISON has written to the charity to say that if its workers back industrial action there could be mass walkouts by Enable Scotland’s social care staff later in the autumn. The union says this is the first strike ballot for over a decade in Scotland’s charitable social care sector and shows the deep dissatisfaction that exists over pay read more
NIPSA
NICS G6 and G7 Competitions (30 Oct) – The Permanent Secretaries Group recently decided to launch G6 and G7 competitions with an “external by default” recruitment approach. In response, NIPSA objected to this approach, advocating instead for internal recruitment, arguing the workforce already possesses the necessary skills, no equality concerns exist, and current employees should have opportunities for career progression. Since management did not accept this argument, NIPSA had no choice but to formally register their disagreement. While this has unfortunately delayed the competitions, the delay is necessary to safeguard members’ interests. A meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 31, and members will be updated on any developments following this meeting read more
NIPSA Urges Immediate Action on Children’s Services Staffing Crisis Amid Strike (28 Oct) – NIPSA Completes Three-Day Strike, Demands Safe Staffing Levels in Children’s Services. The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) has completed a three-day strike (October 23-25), culminating in a rally and delivery of a letter to Minister Nesbitt. NIPSA’s action highlights critical staffing shortages that compromise the safety of vulnerable children across Northern Ireland and calls on the Department of Health (DoH) to prioritise children’s welfare read more
Rally at Stormont Buildings Friday 25 October at 12 noon (24 Oct) – Following two days of successful Strike Action and Picket lines in Northern Trust, the Branch have decided that there will be no picket lines on Friday 25 October 2024 in order to maximise full attendance at the rally scheduled for 12 noon at Castle Buildings on Friday 25 October read more
Royal College of Nursing
Tuition fee increase is ‘bad news for patient care’ (4 Nov) – A loan forgiveness model for nursing staff who commit to working in the NHS and public services must be introduced read more
NHS pay consultation in Wales: RCN members vote reject (4 Nov) – RCN members working for the NHS in Wales have overwhelmingly voted to reject the 2024/25 pay award from the Welsh government read more
NHS pay consultation in England: members vote reject (23 Sept) – Two-thirds of members who voted said the 5.5% pay award isn’t enough read more
RCN opens donations to strike fund in response to public desire to support striking staff – We’ve launched a donation page for people to financially help nursing staff on strike read more
RCM
RCM press for progress on pay for members in Northern Ireland (7 Oct) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) in Northern Ireland says it’s pressing the Government for progress on an overdue pay award for its members. Midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) in Northern Ireland were due their pay uplift on 1 April and the RCM says its completely ‘unfair’ that its members remain in limbo. The RCM alongside colleagues from other HSC trade unions last week met with the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt to press for immediate progress, with the RCM saying the delay is eroding staff morale, particularly as there have been announcements for members in all other parts of the UK read more
RCM urges members in Wales to have their say on pay award (23 Sept) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on all its members working in NHS in Wales to have their say on the 5.5% pay award announced by Wales First Minister Eluned Morgan earlier this month. The call comes as the RCM today opens a two-week consultation with midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) in Wales. The RCM says it’s pleased the award is above inflation which meets the asks set out in its pay claim and that it’s on a par with what midwives and MSWs will receive in England read more
CSP
NHS pay across the UK (24 Sept) – As pay for 2024-25 moves forward in three of the four UK countries we look at the latest information read more
Scotland – members overwhelmingly vote to accept offer
Wales – members should look out for their opportunity to have their say
England – the majority of members feel the award is acceptable
Northern Ireland – awaiting Executive response to PRB recommendations
SOR
SoR welcomes Labour Budget – but warns it does not address ‘fundamental cause’ of crisis (31 Oct) – Chancellor dedicates additional £22.6bn for NHS day-to-day spending, but concerns raised over lack of focus on recruitment read more
SoR refers Royal Devon University NHS Trust to pension regulator over bank pay dispute (16 Oct) – The Society of Radiographers has escalated a dispute with the Royal Devon NHS Trust to the Pension Regulator over pension opt-out concerns read more
Northern Ireland health trade unions meet with health minister over pay (9 Oct) – With health staff in Northern Ireland still almost a year behind other parts of the UK, health trade unions pressed for clarity over uplifts read more
SoR seeks responses from members in Wales on NHS pay award (2 Oct) – The 37th NHS Pay Review Body report has resulted in an offering of 5.5 per cent to radiographers and other NHS professionals read more
Pay award consultation for Scottish SoR members open now (4 Sept) – The Society wants to hear responses from members in Scotland over the proposed 5.5 per cent pay increase read more
BMA
Maintaining pay parity for academic trainees in England (28 Oct) – Doctors in academic training are the future of the UK’s medical research and education; we need to invest in them read more
NEU
NEU comments on the Budget (30 Oct) – Commenting on the Budget speech by Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The additional funding announced today is a welcome injection, but still falls short of what is needed to rebuild education, including the investment needed to reverse pay cuts and tackle sky high workload…” read more
Further Education pay recommendation 2024/25 (11 Oct) – All staff working in FE deserve better than this deeply unsatisfactory offer read more
Support the following NEU strikes:-
| Action | Date | Contact |
| Beecroft Garden Primary / Lewisham | 12 Nov | Karina Maloney [email protected] |
| New City College (BSix Campus) / Hackney (pay/workload) | 12-13 Nov | David Davies [email protected] |
| Tuition Medical & Behaviour Support Services / Shropshire (conditions of service) | 13 Nov | John Boken [email protected] |
| Benson Primary / Birmingham (unacceptable management practices) | 11-15 Nov | David Room [email protected] |
| George Dixon Primary / Birmingham (transfer of employer) | 13-15 Nov | [email protected] |
NASUWT
NASUWT comments on the Budget (30 Oct) – Commenting on the Budget, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said: “We welcome the Government’s commitments to education and public services set out in the Budget today, which marks a step change in approach by the new Government…” read more
Teachers strike after failure to make progress on behaviour and wellbeing (8 Oct) – On Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th October, members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, at Ysgol Nantgwyn, Rhondda Cynon Taff, will take strike action after promises of change from the employer to deal with poor pupil behaviour failed to materialise read more
Northumberland teachers strike to save jobs (7 Oct) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union are continuing their campaign of strike action at three middle schools in Northumberland following the failure of Northumberland County Council to engage in meaningful consultation over plans to close the schools, which has resulted in over 100 redundancy notices being issued. The council wants to close Glendale, Tweedmouth and Berwick Middle Schools as part of a move to a primary and secondary school system. The NASUWT have tried for months to secure firm commitments from the Council and from Berwick Partnership Headteachers, to put in place real mitigations to avoid unnecessary compulsory job losses and teachers took strike action earlier this year in June. Teachers begin the first of seven days of strike action over the next three weeks beginning today (Monday 7 October). They will be on strike on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week and further action will take place on Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October. Members will be demonstrating on Berwick Bridge on Monday and Tuesday between 8am and 9.15am and National Executive Member John Hall will be available to speak to media on Tuesday 8 October on Berwick Bridge read more
Lincolnshire teachers strike for safe and healthy working conditions (30 Sept) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at The Deepings School in Lincolnshire will take two days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday over working practices and a management culture which is driving up teachers’ workload and failing to support them to promote positive pupil behaviour. The strike action will take place despite extensive negotiations by the NASUWT with the employer, Anthem Schools Trust. NASUWT called off planned strike action last July after a series of talks on the key concerns facing members. It was agreed there would be consultation with union reps on those issues. However, on returning to school for the new academic year union members were presented with a revised policy on pupil behaviour that had not been agreed or even discussed with reps. Workload, due to staff shortages and management actions is a significant and growing problem in the school and new staff are expected to work through their lunchbreak as part of “The Anthem Way” read more
EIS
East Ayrshire’s decision on instrumental music is unacceptable and must be reversed (4 Nov) – The EIS has hit out at the decision by East Ayrshire Council to proceed with its plan to outsource instrumental music teaching to an arm’s-length trust read more
EIS Calls on Cabinet Secretary to Intervene to Protect Instrumental Music Tuition (31 Oct) – The EIS has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and called on her to intervene to protect school instrumental music tuition, in light of East Ayrshire Council’s plans to remove its Instrumental Music Service from Education and outsource it to an arm’s length trust read more
Budget Comment: £3.4B Budget Boost can Make a Real Difference for Scottish Education (31 Oct) – The EIS has welcomed the announcement of an additional £3.4 Billion in funding for public services in Scotland, as a consequence of today’s budget statement by Chancellor or the Exchequer Rachel Reeves read more
UCU
Tuition fee hike “economically & morally wrong” (4 Nov) – Responding to the Education Secretary’s announcement today that tuition fees will rise UCU general secretary Jo Grady said. ‘The proposed hike to tuition fees is both economically and morally wrong. Taking more money from debt ridden students and handing it to overpaid underperforming vice-chancellors is ill conceived and won’t come close to addressing the sector’s core issues…” read more
Budget is ‘thin gruel’ for higher education, says UCU (30 Oct) – Responding to the Budget, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Today’s Budget is thin gruel for those working in universities. Employer national insurance rises will hit the sector hard when higher education is already on its knees. Universities are crying out for increased public funding to secure their future as Britain’s last world-leading sector, yet the Chancellor failed to deliver. There will be no decade of national renewal if the government’s approach to universities continues to be one of de facto disinvestment. This is not a matter of special pleading: a properly funded higher education sector is a foundation stone of economic growth…” read more
UCU response to ‘disappointing’ further education pay recommendation (11 Oct) – UCU has today responded to the latest further education pay recommendation from the Association of Colleges (AoC). The further education employer body is recommending a pay offer of 2.5% or £750, whichever is greater. As part of the union’s New Deal For FE campaign, UCU members are calling for a 10% or £3k pay rise along with: parity with schoolteacher pay, a minimum starting salary of £30,000, closure of equality pay gaps, national agreements on workload, a return to national bargaining read more
UCU calls on Open University to withdraw fire and rehire threat (20 Sept) – UCU today called on the Open University (OU) to scrap its plans to fire and rehire staff. The OU first began consulting on fire and rehire plans in 2023 and expects to cut up to 26 tutor jobs by January 2025, if the tutors refuse to have their working hours and pay reduced. If tutors are fired and rehired, they would have the reduction of hours and pay imposed, without compensation read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
National Audit Office report on dangerous cladding confirms worst fears (4 Nov) – The National Audit Office published its report, Dangerous cladding: the government’s remediation portfolio today, 4 November. The report shows that the cladding crisis is worse than expected, with more homes and other buildings still clad with flammable materials. Remediation is slow and might take until 2037 – twenty years after the Grenfell Tower fire – until the risks are dealt with. The NEO has found that are an estimated total of 9,000-12,000 buildings of 11 metres or higher with unsafe cladding that require remediation. Seven years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, by August 2024, only 4,771 number of these had been identified for remediation, and only 1,392 completed works. The report reveals that the government does not know how many low-rise buildings (below 11 metres) have dangerous cladding read more
FBU bars individual from membership due to racist and fascist social media posts (4 Nov) – The FBU has taken firm action against an individual for racist and fascist activity. As far as the union is aware, this is the first time in the FBU’s history that someone has been barred from membership for an offence involving the promotion of fascist material read more
Poole firefighters condemn fire engine removal after “week of chaos” (1 Nov) – The Fire Brigades Union has revealed that on-call firefighters at Poole were called out to 15 incidents in the week following the removal of one of Poole’s 24 hour crewed fire engines: five times the number of incidents predicted by the service. On Monday 21st October, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service removed Poole’s second full-time staffed fire engine, as part of a series of cuts to eight fire stations. Poole fire station provides fire cover across the south of the region and is the busiest in the county read more
Scotland retained firefighters balloted on terms and conditions (31 Oct) – Retained and voluntary duty system firefighters in Scotland will be balloted on a new and improved proposal from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to standardise their terms and conditions. The ballot is set run for three weeks, opening at noon on Thursday 7 November and closing at noon on Thursday 28 November. FBU Scotland regional committee is recommending that members accept the offer read more
Fire union leader says Budget must usher in ‘substantial’ pay rises for workers (30 Oct) – The general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union has called on the government to “go further and faster” responding to today’s budget announcement read more
POA
National Chair Update October 2024 read more
Video tribute to Joe Simpson
POA campaign to repeal Section 127 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994 – The POA held a Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons on 21st October 2024. At the same time the second reading of the Employment Rights Bill was being debated as well. Many Members of Parliament raised concerns there was nothing in the Bill regarding the right to strike for Prison Officers in the England/Wales service and in Northern Ireland. I am extremely grateful for the interjections of those MPs on our behalf as part of our campaign. The Employment Bill now moves to committee stage early next year with January 2025 pencilled in. Previously I asked all POA members to engage in this campaign for the repeal of this pernicious piece of legislation. Many branch officials and individual POA members have sent letters to their respective MPs seeking their support and we have received some good support, however we now need to step up the campaign and every POA member needs to play their part. The specimen letter already drafted is available on the POA website to download read more
NAPO
Napo calls for urgent investment in Probation (31 Oct) – The recall figures released today highlight just how broken the justice system currently is. A 44% increase in recalls between April – June 2024 compared with the same period in 2023 is a significant increase and indicative of a criminal justice system that is currently not functioning. The prison crisis that has led to the early release of prisoners has had a massive impact on Probation staff, those people being released and the wider community read more
BFAWU
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
Nautilus International
Pay uplift accepted by members at Caledonian MacBrayne (1 Nov) – Nautilus members at Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) have voted to accept a 3.5% salary increase, backdated to 1 October 2024 read more
Mounting pressure on government to resolve RFA pay dispute (23 Sept) – Members of Nautilus International working for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary stepped up their dispute with employers on Sunday 22 September with a rally outside the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. The protest was part of the ongoing dispute between RFA officers and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which oversees the service. Nautilus members are demanding the government end years of stagnating wages, and cuts to vital services leaving many feeling overworked, underpaid and undervalued read more
BALPA
Budget 2024: The BALPA perspective (30 Oct) – Following the long-awaited reveal of the new Government’s first budget, BALPA General Secretary Amy Leversidge said: “We welcome the further strengthening of employment rights, particularly protections against unfair dismissal. Increasing job security will provide stability and increase economic growth…” read more
NUJ
NUJ condemns treatment of journalists working in Gaza (1 Nov) – The NUJ has written to the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland condemning the treatment of journalists working in Gaza read more
NUJ launches Journalists’ Safety Tracker (1 Nov) – The union is encouraging journalists to use the online reporting tool capturing incidents of harassment, abuse and “lawfare” targeted at journalists across the UK and Ireland read more
End Impunity for crimes against journalists (1 Nov) – Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the International UN day, the NUJ backs calls for urgent action to ensure all perpetrators of crimes against journalists are brought to justice read more
NUJ backs Council of Europe call for improved journalist safety protections in Ireland (31 Oct) – Anti-SLAPP provisions, PSNI surveillance and investment in public service broadcasting were among topics discussed at the two day meeting read more
Guardian & Observer journalists to ballot for industrial action over sale of The Observer (25 Oct) – The NUJ has informed the Guardian Media Group of its intention to ballot members following an overwhelming indicative vote in favour of industrial action. 93 per cent of journalists on a turnout of 70 per cent indicated their willingness to take strike action and 96 per cent voted in favour of action short of a strike. The resounding decision is in opposition to the proposed sale of the Observer and follows confirmation by the Guardian Media Group last month that it is engaged in exclusive talks with Tortoise Media. At a meeting of the NUJ Guardian & Observer chapel on 24 October, reps agreed a formal postal ballot process should now proceed with journalists urged to vote yes to participating in industrial action read more
NUJ condemns RELX for its union-busting decision to derecognise the union at LexisNexis and LexisNexis Risk Solutions (4 Oct) – The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has today received notification from LexisNexis and LexisNexis Risk Solutions (formerly RBI) of its intention to terminate long-standing recognition agreements with the union. The NUJ strongly condemns the decision, urging a reversal of the ill-judged attempt to remove collective bargaining rights from journalists and editorial workers read more
Equity
Equity statement on the Autumn budget (30 Oct) – Equity welcomes change of tone on industrial strategy for the performing arts and entertainment industries read more
WNO chorus strike remains paused following constructive discussions with new interim management (7 Oct) – Equity members in the chorus of the Welsh National Opera vote to continue to pause strike action, meaning they will not go on strike on Friday 11 October read more
Musicians’’ Union
The MU’s Reaction to Labour’s First Budget (31 Oct) – The Musicians’ Union reacts to the Labour Government’s new budget and explores what it could mean for the creative industries, music and musicians read more
Protect Welsh National Opera: Email Your Political Representatives for Support (30 Oct) – Email your political representatives to support musicians campaigning to protect Welsh National Opera jobs and secure the company’s future, including touring in England and Wales read more
Welsh National Opera Orchestra Take Industrial Action Over Proposed Pay Cuts (24 Sept) – Musicians in the Welsh National Opera orchestra took Action Short of Strike on Saturday 21 September read more
Community
Assaults on prison staff rise again (1 Nov) – New data from the Ministry of Justice shows that the number of assaults on prison staff has risen again over the last year read more
Community welcomes Labour’s first budget (30 Oct) – After 800 years of male predecessors, the first ever budget from a Female Chancellor was always set to be historic. But after 14 years of Conservative government, 7 different Tory Chancellors and over a decade of failed economic policies, Chancellor Rachel Reeves had a huge challenge to being the process to rebuild Britain read more
Community welcomes new duty to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace (30 Oct) – Unfortunately for many, sexual harassment still happens far too often in the workplace, and many people who experience stay quiet out of fear of losing their jobs or causing upset at work. In addition, most instances of sexual harassment are only reported when it’s too late, and many employers simply don’t know what to do when facing reports of sexual harassment among their workforce. That is where The Workers Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 comes in. As of 26 October 2024, this Act brings important and new protections for employees across England, Scotland, and Wales. Now, employers will have a legal obligation to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as take proactive and reasonable steps to protect their employees from sexual harassment read more
HelloFresh workers protest mass dismissals (18 Oct) – Workers and members of the community gathered in Birmingham today to protest HelloFresh’s decision to dismiss 79 workers from its Nuneaton warehouse. The company dismissed workers via email last week following concerns being raised about the dire working conditions on site read more
USDAW
Living Wage Week: Usdaw calls on employers to pay all workers at least the real Living Wage (4 Nov) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed today’s launch of Living Wage Week, which highlights the new pay rates set by the Living Wage Foundation for over-18s of £12.60 per hour and £13.85 in London read more
Usdaw launches a strike ballot at KP Snacks in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in a dispute over pay (1 Nov) – Usdaw has today opened an industrial action ballot for its members at the Ashby-de-la-Zouch site of KP Snacks. The formal ballot over a dispute about pay closes on 25 November and follows a recent consultative industrial action ballot read more
Autumn Budget 2024: Usdaw welcomes action to save our shops and tackle in-work poverty (30 Oct) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed today’s Budget that will help make work pay after three years of a Tory cost of living crisis, and support retail businesses after a decade of crisis in the industry read more
Tesco distribution workers at eight sites reject a less than 5% pay offer – Usdaw consults members on industrial action (28 Aug) – Retail distribution trade union Usdaw has launched a consultation ballot, asking Tesco workers at eight sites across Great Britain if they are prepared to take a dispute over pay to industrial action. Members at all eight sites overwhelmingly rejected Tesco’s pay offer of between 2% plus £500 and 4.4%, depending on contract, along with some additional enhancements. The eight sites affected are: Hinckley, Magor, Southampton, Daventry Clothing, Goole, Lichfield, Livingston and Peterborough. The consultative ballot will run from 9 to 24 September 2024 read more
UVW
Now, that’s what you call a picket! Over 300 join striking Natural History and Science Museum security guards (31 Oct) – “I’m here at the picket line because my colleagues and UVW had no choice. We’ve felt ignored and undermined for so long, we had to make a stand. There was no other option. Being on strike is an empowering experience and you win confidence. There’s a lot of people supporting you, different trade unions, MPs speaking, members… Others should make a stand too. It’s not impossible. It can be done“ – Bayo Owolabi, museum guard on strike. On Saturday 26 October, UVW staged its largest-ever picket, with over 300 striking security guards and supporters gathering outside the Natural History and Science Museums read more
UVW threatens landmark private prosecution over use of strike breakers (29 Oct) – UVW has instructed the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) to serve notice on Wilson James, the security contractor at the Science and Natural History Museums, and the BMSL* agency that private prosecutions will be brought against them if they use agency workers to cover security guards on strike. Strikes have been called for between 25 and 27 October 2024, and between 30 October and 1 November 2024. This would be the first prosecution in relation to these regulations and the first time an employer could be held criminally liable as an accessory read more
IWGB
Game workers union unveil manifesto to transform sector after unprecedented mass layoffs (31 Oct) – Video game developers represented by the IWGB (Independent Workers Union of Great Britain) have today published their first manifesto, declaring their plans to transform the games sector by tackling job insecurity, unpaid overtime, and inadequate pay. The publication comes amid an unprecedented wave of mass redundancies in the industry, which saw over 10,000 workers worldwide lose their jobs in 2023. The number of redundancies so far this year is estimated to have already exceeded 13,000 read more
Workers at Royal Mail subsidiary eCourier vote to strike with 94% yes vote (30 Oct) – Couriers working at last mile delivery service eCourier have voted 94% in favour of strike action with an 84.75% turnout. The couriers, represented by the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB), will take strike action for 6 days between now and the end of the year read more
Find out more about the couriers’ strikes on the X/twitter of the IWGB Couriers’ branch @IWGB_CLB
SIPTU (Ireland)
Respect Transport Workers to present Travel Safe proposal in Leinster House (4 Nov) – SIPTU will host an information meeting for Oireachtas members and the media on the Union’s proposal for a new Public Transport Police Service contained in its recently published report Travel Safe read more
SIPTU members in Becton Dickinson in Drogheda commence industrial action today (25 Sept) – SIPTU members employed in the Becton Dickinson manufacturing plant in Drogheda, County Louth, commenced a ‘work-to-rule’ industrial action today due to the failure of management to meaningfully engage with their Union concerning the threatened closure of the facility read more
Citizens Information Service staff vote in favour of strike action (23 Sept) – SIPTU members employed in the Citizens Information Service have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay in a ballot counted this morning in Liberty Hall, Dublin read more
Other news
Alan Hardman ‘Need not Greed’ – Alan Hardman’s razor-sharp political cartoons collected for the first time. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, Need Not Greed is a career-spanning collection of visual art by one of Britain’s greatest unsung political cartoonists. Alongside Alan Hardman’s essential work, the book also includes a contribution from former President of the National Union of Mineworkers, Arthur Scargill, as well as a foreword by Jeremy Corbyn order a copy – £45 each
Can you help? Crowdfunding to tour a production and exhibition of The Grunwick Strike Autumn 2025 – 2026 – We wanted to get in touch to let you know we are crowdfunding for a new production and interactive exhibition. The theatre show will tell the story of Jayaben Desai – the inspirational leader of the 1976-78 Grunwick Film Processing Factory Strike. We need your help to get this production and exhibition on the road, any donation you make will mean we are one step closer to getting this very important story out there performing to audiences across the UK. Any money raised will be matched by other funders. We’ve just got eight weeks to reach our target. Please find the link for our crowdfunding campaign HERE. Link to our Crowdfunding video HERE
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
Make Equality Real – campaign call 23 October – We are a coalition of 14 national trade unions, community & campaign groups.We believe that social economic duty should be written into the Equality Act 2010 as part of a campaign to end austerity and make equality real. Ensuring that everyone in Britain can live secure and fulfilling lives. Find below our campaign petition, pledge for local councillors and materials to use in your workplace and beyond. Support the campaign to end austerity and make equality real read more
From Strike Map – Our final instalment of the ‘Industrial Unionism’ series with Manifesto Press is here. Building on this success of our other pamphlets- which has sold over 2,000 copies, our next pamphlet in our series is the infamous ‘A Manual of Industrial Unionism’ by William Z Foster. Click the button here to pre-order your copy for you and your organisation
NEW Play: Cramlington Train Wreckers – Following the national success of Wor Bella (about WW1 women footballers), Tyneside-based playwright Ed Waugh will present his new work in November, which is about the Cramlington Train Wreckers. Ed, who has the distinction for a local writer of having had a record five plays produced at Newcastle’s prestigious Theatre Royal, writes about forgotten working class stories and his latest play is set during 1926 General Strike when striking miners uncoupled a rail on the mainline Edinburgh to London railway. As we rapidly approach the centenary of Britain’s only General Strike, the most notorious incident of that societal unrest in May 1926 happened when miners inadvertently derailed the Flying Scotsman on the mainline Edinburgh to London railway at Cramlington in Northumberland. The Cramlington Train Wreckers, which is supported by Arts Council England, will tour the North East in November. For further details visit www.cramlingtontrainwreckers.co.uk
filmpro with ten public sharing launch party – The launch party for the filmpro with ten public sharing, celebrating our 10 disabled campaigners turned artists – Monday, 11 November 276 Oak Square London SW9 9AW more details
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. This has now escalated and widened.
See Stop the War website for info on protests.
A number of unions have issued statements on the situation in the Middle East, including: the TUC, FBU, RMT, NEU, Unite, Unison, PCS, ASLEF, TSSA, UCU, EIS, CWU, Equity, BMA, NUJ, UVW, GMB, SOR, RCM, RCN, IWGB, Prospect, CSP, NAPO, INTO (Ireland), SIPTU (Ireland) and Mandate (Ireland)
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
Blacklisting collusion investigation update:-
Statement from the independent investigation into union collusion in blacklisting, commissioned by Sharon Graham:
“90 per cent of the investigation has been completed. However, in preparing the last 10% some new issues have been thrown up which need some urgent investigation, and these issues have to be looked into which will cause a delay.”
The independent investigation into union officials colluding in blacklisting was one of the first things Sharon Graham set up when she was elected as General Secretary of UNITE the union. The independent legal team is headed up by Nick Randall KC (Matrix chambers), alongside JC Townsend (XXIV Old Buildings) and Paul Heron (Public Interest Law Centre). Witness statements, documentary and electronic evidence has been collated over the past two years.
The investigation was set up because blacklisted union members in the Blacklist Support Group, the Construction Rank & File and UNITE branches campaigned for it. An oversight committee made up of blacklisted workers, has been assisting the legal team, and has ensured that the investigation is independent from the union itself. There has been much speculation about the likely outcome of the final report. This statement gives an indication that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
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
Germany: Request for solidarity message for German strikers who are mainly responsible for cash transport – They are in the ver.di trade union in Berlin-Brandenburg. The drivers have very precarious conditions (some have 10 to 11 hour shifts without a real break as they are not allowed to leave their vehicles) and are generally on a low wage. The bosses are blocking improvements and demand changes for the worse which has heightened anger. The latest strike saw over 2000 of the 10,000 workers nationally striking. Next strike starts on 11 November. Email messages of support via [email protected]
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. 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.
Model motion – https://linktr.ee/nigeriansolidarityuk
Afghanistan: multiple journalists arrested by Taliban intelligence (19 Oct) read more on NUJ website
Yemen: journalist sentenced to death by Houthi-controlled group (19 Oct) read more on NUJ website
Turkey: Fernas mining workers marched to Parliament against slave-like conditions (4 Oct) read more on website of SPOT – Solidarity with the People of Turkey
Diary
2024
November
29 from Strike Map: London book launch & social: A Manual of Industrial Unionism
Join the exciting launch of our reprint of A Manual of Industrial Unionism by William Z Foster 6.30pm on 29 Nov at Marx Memorial Library more details
2025
July 5 NSSN Annual Conference 2025 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall London
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
