The NSSN continues to publicise the continuing action taking place. Please read this and every week’s NSSN bulletin to find information about current and ongoing disputes and please continue to send support and solidarity to workers and unions taking action, particularly those facing victimisation and strike-breaking. The NSSN demands the immediate repeal of the undemocratic voting thresholds in the Trade Union Act 2016, along with the Minimum Service Levels Act 2023 and the rest of the Tory anti-union laws.
Please sign and share the following petitions:-
Unite: Support the sacked TGI Fridays workers: Sign this petition
Stand with PCS reps at Benton Park View, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
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 And, all the Tory anti-union laws going back to Thatcher and Major should be repealed.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.
The Campaign for Trade Union Freedom is holding TWO on-line only webinars on the Employment Rights Bill during the Autumn 2024, looking at what’s good in the Bill and also looking to campaign on the Employment Bill’s shortcomings.
Webinar 1 – Thursday 21st November at 6:00 pm
Speakers: Jo Grady – General Secretary, University & College Union
Prof Keith Ewing – Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
Lord John Hendy KC – Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
Chair: Carolyn Jones – Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
To register for this event Webinar 1 click here:
or paste in this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o295k-UWSjGUgfXMQcIvsQ
Webinar 2 – Thursday 12th December at 6:00 pm
Speakers: Fran Heathcote – General Secretary, Public & Commercial Services Union
Prof Keith Ewing – Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
Lord John Hendy KC – Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
Chair: Tony Burke – Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
To register for this event Webinar 2 click here:
or paste in this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KkwLdVXwQDKmpggLBolsLw
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
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
TUC: Join the workplace day of action on Thursday 28th November calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza – The TUC and unions are supporting the workplace day of action calling for an immediate ceasefire, on 28 November. Members are encouraged to liaise with your union about solidarity actions in their own workplaces. Tens of thousands of trade unionists in Britain have already carried out an array of solidarity actions
NSSN news
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it and/or making an additional donation to help our work. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month via a standing order.
You can either pay online to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790.
Or you can pay by cheque to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ and post to NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE.
Feel free to use this affiliation letter.
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Katrine on [email protected]
The NSSN is developing a campaign pack for social care, which we hope to make available in the not-too-distant future for supporters to use in their localities. As part of this, communications officer Dave Gorton is keen to hear from supporters who:
(1) work in social care (either local authority, private or independently provided)
(2) represent social care workers for a trade union
(3) are in need of social care provision themselves or act as an (unpaid/underpaid) carer for a family member
Dave can be contacted in the first instance via [email protected]
Union News
You can receive this bulletin via email or you can choose to unsubscribe and stop receiving them. Like everyone else, the NSSN has to adhere to new data protection regulations. Therefore you must click here to subscribe/unsubscribe. Reports from unions do not necessarily reflect NSSN’s views.
RMT
Solidarity action with Canadian dockers (8 Nov) – We have been informed today that our fellow trade unionists in the International Longshore Workers’ Union (ILWU Canada Local 514) have been locked out of their workplace in Vancouver Port by their employer British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association (BCMEA). An asset management company (IFM Investors) has a 37.5% stake in the BCMEA group. Rob Ashton, ILWU Canada president has called on IFM to intervene and get the Port reopened and dialogue reestablished. ILWU has asked for support from fellow trade unionists read more
Trainline accused of ripping off customers and deliberately misleading them (7 Nov) – Rail union RMT, today published survey results revealing Trainline’s destructive practice of ripping off passengers, misleading the general public, and undermining the integrity of the railways. The survey, which asked more than 2,600 rail workers about their experiences, uncovered a range of serious problems with Trainline’s ticketing system — bogus tickets, excessive pricing, and confusing fare options. The results show that Trainline does not deliver best-value fares and has put profits ahead of its commitment to deliver a public service. Trainline is set to release its half-year results today, following a September update revealing £2bn in ticket sales and a 17% revenue increase to £106m in the first half of the year 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
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
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
Tube strikes called off after union talks (5 Nov) – Planned strikes on the London Underground have been suspended following talks over pay between the Aslef union and Transport for London (TfL). Industrial action was due to begin on Thursday and a walkout was also planned for next Tuesday. Aslef said it had been given a “significantly improved” pay offer by London Underground management and it would discuss that offer with union members on Thursday read more on BBC website
TSSA
TSSA tells Scottish Government to ‘think again’ on ScotRail ticket office plans (6 Nov) – TSSA – the union for rail ticket office staff – has told the Scottish Government that it is strongly opposed to any reduction in ticket office opening hours across Scotland. The move follows a meeting today (Wednesday) with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop and Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA General Secretary after ScotRail recently announced plans to reduce the opening hours at 54 ticket offices. The union will campaign across Scotland to halt any reduction of service and opening hours. TSSA – which has represented ticket office workers for more than 125 years – led a successful campaign against closures across England (and parts of Scotland and Wales) in 2023. The union views ticket offices as vital to passengers, performing a welfare and security function far beyond selling tickets, a point made to Ms Hyslop in the meeting read more
Unite
‘Save Grangemouth – Scotland’s Last Oil Refinery’: From the Workplace to the Capital – 28th November, Assemble 10 am, Johnston Terrace to Holyrood free transport details
Unite secures inflation busting wage win for Loganair cabin crew (12 Nov) – UK-wide deal lifts overall pay package by 26.7 per cent. Unite has delivered an inflation busting pay deal for Loganair workers across the UK, Scotland’s leading aviation union confirmed today (Tuesday 12 November). Over 120 Loganair cabin crew will now benefit from the 18 month deal which was negotiated by Unite.
The deal covers cabin crew servicing flights from airports across the UK and Ireland. This includes London City and Heathrow, Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Man, Liverpool, Manchester and Shetland. The pay deal amounts to an average basic pay increase of 23 per cent, which then rises to 26.7 per cent when other pay benefits and allowances are included. The highest pay rise will be for Loganair cabin crew trainers who are set for a substantial increase of around £8,300 or 29.3 per cent on basic hourly rates. The deal runs from September 2024 to April 2026 read more
Ford staff strike escalates as anger over pay and contract changes grows (11 Nov) – Targeted industrial action hits key Ford operations in Dagenham and Speke. Strikes by Ford salary staff escalated today over the company’s refusal to address the workers’ concerns around pay and contract changes. 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. Despite absences running at less than two per cent, it is attempting to change the long-standing sick pay policy and also wants to change the collective bargaining agreement with Unite
- Strikes at the Ford’s Dagenham engine plant will take place on 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 November. Pickets will be located outside of Gate 20 (RM9 6SA) and Gate 21 (RM13 8DH) from 0700 hrs.
- A demonstration with speakers will also take place at 1230hrs Wednesday 13 November outside of Gate 20.
- Strikes at Ford’s Speke plant will take place on 13, 14 and 15 November. The picket will be located outside of Gate 20 (L24 8QH) from 0600 hrs read moreThe picket will be located outside of Gate 20 (L24 8QH) from 0600 hrs read more
Safehouse Habitats workers in three months strike action over attack on pay and conditions (11 Nov) – Dundee firm provides working shelters for major oil and gas operators. Unite the union can confirm that Safehouse Habitats workers based in Dundee will begin three months strike action from today (11 November). The dispute at Safehouse Habitats involving over a dozen technicians has escalated into all-out strike action following the refusal of the company to make any pay offer to the workforce. The company is also attempting to force through detrimental changes to the sick pay policy which could leave workers facing the minimum statutory sick pay level instead of six months full pay. The Safehouse Habitats workers made a salary sacrifice of around three per cent two years ago in order to access the scheme. The Safehouse Habitats technicians will be taking strike action commencing at 00:01 hours on 11 November continuing each day up to 2 February 2025 when the three months’ industrial action will conclude at 23:59 hours unless there is a resolution to the dispute read more
Support the sacked TGI Fridays workers: Sign this petition – On 7th October, over 1000 TGI Fridays workers were given 57 minutes notice of a call with their CEO at which they were all sacked. 35 sites across the company were padlocked and workers locked out of their workplaces with valued possessions inside. Support our national petition to demand legal, financial and political justice for these workers
‘Hypocritical’ Sheffield First bus slammed for strike breaking in poverty pay dispute (8 Nov) – First says Bidvest Noonan workers should get real living wage but is providing labour to undermine industrial action. Sheffield bus refuelling and cleaning strikes over poverty pay have intensified despite ‘hypocritical’ First South Yorkshire’s attempts to undermine the industrial action. First has publicly supported the Olive Grove depot workers’ demand that contractor Bidvest Noonan pay them the real living wage before the contract renewal date of November 2026. The company, however, is using its own staff to move buses within the depot – a role normally carried out by Bidvest employees – to undermine the two-month-old strike…Industrial action has now been extended to four days a week throughout November, with Bidvest Noonan workers employed at First’s Doncaster Leger Way depot also joining the strikes read more
Veolia Sheffield Bin Dispute Escalates with Policy Committee Demonstration (7 Nov) – Refuse Workers to Demonstrate at Sheffield Town Hall on 8th November. Striking Veolia refuse workers will be joined by Unite members and activists representing different parts of the region in demonstrating against Sheffield City Council’s refusal to intervene in this damaging dispute. Workers at Veolia’s Lumley Street depot have been taking part in continuous strike action since 20 August. The dispute is a result of the fact that, despite representing significant numbers at the depot, and despite Unite having other recognition agreements with Veolia in other depots around the country, the company is refusing to sign a recognition agreement with Unite for bargaining over pay, conditions, and health and safety read more
Union takes pay dispute to Iceland in support of striking Spalding food workers (7 Nov) – Unite activists and members have taken the fight for fair pay to Reykjavik, Iceland as part of the industrial dispute with food processing company Bakkavor. Over 700 workers are currently taking part in continuous strike action at the Bakkavor production plant in Spalding, Lincolnshire after years of real terms pay cuts. Bakkavor’s biggest shareholders are Icelandic “tycoons” Agust and Lydur Gudmundsson. Lydur Gudmundsson was previously convicted for financial fraud against the people of Iceland. Now he and his brother are making millions on the backs of poorly paid workers in the UK. Together they own half of Bakkavor shares and have huge power over the company. Bakkavor made £94 million in profit last year. In the last five years it has paid out £158 million to shareholders. But most workers in Spalding are only paid £11.54 an hour, just 10 pence above the minimum wage. The workers have seen their pay decrease by 10.6 per cent in real terms over the last three year. Unite members are demanding a pay rise of 81 pence an hour on average. This amounts to just two per cent of Bakkavor’s profits. Protests took place across the Icelandic capital yesterday (6 November) including at the homes of the Gudmundsson brothers, at the headquarters of their holding company and at the Icelandic film school owned by Agust. Unite representatives were joined by comrades from the Efling Icelandic trade union as they made noisy protests, handed out leaflets and projected images onto the sides of buildings read more. Send messages of support to [email protected]
National Grid profits underscore case for public ownership of energy (7 Nov) – Responding to today’s half-year financial results for National Grid Plc, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The profits raked in by the National Grid lay bare Britain’s broken energy system. Energy profiteers like National Grid are extracting cash for overseas’ shareholders through ever more expensive bills. It is time our energy infrastructure was brought back into public ownership so that the British people and economy benefit rather than foreign wealth funds.” Read more
Airlines braced for foodless fights as catering workers at eight UK airports ballot for strikes (7 Nov) – Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, London City, Stansted, Bristol, and Birmingham dnata workers ballot for industrial action
Passengers at airports across the country are facing the prospect of having no onboard food or drink during long and short haul flights as dnata catering workers ballot for strike action. More than 700 dnata workers providing food for airlines at Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow, London City, Stansted, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham airports are balloting for strike action. The production line, warehouse and delivery workers are angry at the company’s attempts to change their terms and conditions without consultation. If strikes go ahead, major airlines, including easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, BA, Emirates, America Airlines and Air India, will be impacted read more
Jiffy dispute ends with pay increase for Cheshire workers (6 Nov) – Workers at the Jiffy packaging plant in Winsford, Cheshire, are celebrating today after securing a four per cent pay increase. Staff also maintained all existing terms and conditions that had been under threat. Over 50 members of Unite, Britain’s leading trade union, had taken 36 days of industrial action in their dispute with their employer. Workers had originally been offered a one per cent pay increase or a three per cent increase with dramatic reductions in sickness benefits. Following strike action that crippled production at the plant workers won a substantially improved offer, of four per cent backdated to 1 March. They also maintained their sick pay at current levels and got Jiffy management to remove the degrading fob system in place that monitored workers’ toilet breaks. Further assurances over redundancies and retraining have also been guaranteed read more
Unite secures wage win for dock workers on the Clyde (6 Nov) – Overall pay package worth 9.3 per cent for 100 Clydeport workers. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, can confirm today (Wednesday 6 November) that Clydeport dock workers on the River Clyde have secured an overall pay package worth approximately 9.3 per cent. Around 100 workers based at the King George V dock in Glasgow and at Greenock Ocean terminal, overwhelmingly backed the wage offer. The deal covers crane and terminal operators, pilots who move vessels around the Clyde along with engineers, estuary and vessel deck hands. The accepted offer amounts to a three per cent basic pay rise, two days extra holidays, bonuses worth up to £1000 if absence and profit targets are reached along with a 50 pence an hour rise for crane operators read more
Unite: Extra defence budget spending must prioritise UK jobs (5 Nov) – Unite call comes as Defence Committee holds first evidence session. The government must prioritise procurement that benefits UK jobs and industry out of the £2.9 billion extra defence spending allocated in the Budget, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said read more
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
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
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
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]
Sign this petition: Striking Haringey housing workers need a pay rise now!
To: Councillor Peray Ahmet and Andy Donald, Leader and CEO of Haringey Council
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]
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
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
TV Licensing workers need respect, CWU warn BBC (11 Nov) – The Communication Workers Union have written to the BBC warning that TV Licensing (TVL) workers balloting for potential strikes are a “disrespected workforce”. In a letter addressed to BBC Chief Customer Officer Kerris Bright, CWU Assistant Secretary Andy Furey wrote about the dispute, which is related to the real terms pay freeze that TVL workers are having forced on them at the insistence of their contractor, Capita. The contractor was awarded the contract to do this vital work by the national broadcaster for the sum of £456 million over five years. Capita bosses are demanding that these 500 workers be subjected to a pay freeze for 2024, with the pay date intended to be for 1st April. Bosses claim that the pay freeze is necessary, and that any raise is financially impossible. However, as Furey says in the letter, Capita can “readily afford” a pay rise with reflects the cost of living, due to this “very lucrative” contract read more
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 – Recognition Breakthroughs, Winter Fuel Allowance & more w/ Norman Candy (7 Nov) – On this episode of CWU Live, we’re pleased to be joined by NEC Rep for Retired Members, Norman Candy. We will be bringing you updates from right across the union. From the workplace, to conferences, events and much more. We’ll discuss the importance of voting in union elections, chat about the winter fuel allowance, and of course, BT and Royal Mail 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]
BREAKING NEWS!! Ballot for targeted action to defend sacked PCS HMRC reps (12 Nov) – PCS will ballot members in Employer Services, based at Benton Park View in Newcastle for industrial action, in defence of three sacked reps. Three elected PCS representatives, Gordon Askew, Rachel Farmer and Joel Hamilton have been sacked by HMRC. Following a successful consultative ballot, PCS is to hold a statutory ballot for industrial action for members in AA and AO grades working in employer services at Benton Park View in support of the sacked reps. We will move to industrial action if HMRC does not re-employ the reps who were unfairly dismissed. The ballot will open on 18 November and run until 9 December. Over 200 members in PT Ops Employer Services will be balloted read more
Further strike dates announced in Facilities Management disputes (11 Nov) – The new dates will see strikes taking place during November and December and into 2025. PCS has served notice of extra strike dates in the dispute involving facilities management staff employed by OCS and G4S. PCS members employed by OCS as caterers and cleaners and employed by G4S as security officers at the FCDO at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride are set to strike for the month of December until 3 January. PCS members employed by G4S as security officers, receptionists and pass office staff at a number of workplaces in London including Cabinet Office, Department for Business and Trade, the Canary Wharf Hub and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will take five more days of strike action in November (25 to 29) and a further five days in December (9 to 13). The strike dates signal a significant escalation to the ongoing disputes in relation to pay, terms and conditions. OCS members have been taking strike action since September and the G4S members have taken two weeks of strike action in October and November. Both G4S and OCS have failed to table an acceptable pay offer which lifts members out of poverty and improves their working lives by improving terms and conditions, including the introduction of company sick pay and an increase in annual leave read more
PCS Facilities Management members stand resolute (8 Nov) – PCS members employed by outsourced giants OCS and G4S continued their industrial action this week. The strike action, which impacts the catering and cleaning services at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in East Kilbride and security services at a number of departments including Cabinet Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, comes as a result of a failure to table pay offers that lift members out of poverty pay and deliver significant improvements to terms and conditions. This week saw about 100 G4S members march in protest through Whitehall to take their message direct to G4S bosses at their London headquarters. In a powerful display of unity, the strikers were joined on the march by MPs John McDonnell, Diane Abbott and Brian Leishman. Two other MPs, Richard Burgon and Imran Hussain, spoke to members at the picket line at 70 Whitehall read more
No Progress on the Disability Pay Gap (7 Nov) – Today, 7 November, marks Disability Pay Gap Day—the point in the year when disabled workers stop earning in comparison to their non-disabled colleagues. Disabled workers in the UK are earning, on average, £2.35 less an hour than non-disabled workers read more
Members rally to support sacked reps (6 Nov) – PCS members at Benton Park View in Newcastle came together today in a show of support and solidarity for their HMRC reps who were unfairly sacked for their trade union activity. Dozens of members attended the rally to voice the demand to re-employ the 3 reps who have stood up for them at work when they have needed them and they are determined to return the favour. Members were told that a formal letter had been sent to the employer advising that should the sacked reps not be re-employed by HMRC by no later than close of business on Friday (8 November), PCS will have no option but to consider that a trade dispute exists between us. This is the first step toward members on the site taking strike action in furtherance of the campaign to reinstate the 3 dismissed reps; and to that end a consultative ballot of members is now underway read more. 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
Rough justice report reveals extent of crisis in Scotland’s courts and prosecution services (5 Nov) – A new report commissioned by PCS has revealed the extent of the crisis facing staff in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) 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
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 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
GMB
BREAKING NEWS!! Labour’s cash-strapped Lambeth Council set to lose £300,000 a week as parking strike hits borough revenue (12 Nov) – Cllr Claire Holland, Leader of Lambeth council is burying her head in the sand about the strike hitting council’s parking service. GMB, the union for local government workers, has estimated that the current strike being carried out by parking wardens in Lambeth is set to cost the local authority around £300,000 a week in lost revenue. Lambeth Council’s parking contractor Apcoa employs the traffic wardens within the borough, as well as neighbouring boroughs Kingston, Richmond and Wandsworth. Dozens of members are taking action over a litany of workplace issues, including the fact that some workers have been offered no pay rise at all for 2024 read more
More than 200 parking wardens to strike across three London Boroughs as last-ditch talks fail (8 Nov) – Zero pay rise, no recognition and disrespect towards members has led to strike, says GMB. More than 200 parking wardens and environmental officers across three London Boroughs are set to walk off the job from 7am on Monday 11 November until Midnight on Sunday 17 November. The strike will take place across the boroughs of Wandsworth, Richmond and Lambeth, with members in Kingston also currently voting on whether to join their colleagues read more
Bolt Decision ‘goes further than Uber’ (8 Nov) – GMB, the union for private hire drivers, has responded to a decision by the employment tribunal over Bolt today [Friday] read more
Luxury headscarf makers walk out again later talks break down (7 Nov) – Dozens of headscarf workers will walk out for four more days after talks broke down. Skilled weavers at Lappet Manufacturing, in Carlisle, will walk out today, tomorrow [Friday], Saturday [9 November] and Sunday [10 November] in anger at low pay and ‘crushing’ targets, GMB has said. Workers need years of experience to make the high end headscarves, predominantly for the Saudi Arabian market, but their pay does not reflect that, says GMB Union 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
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 –
Care sector faces ‘long and hard’ road to recovery after years of neglect, says UNISON (6 Nov) – Fair pay agreement and national care service are needed for people to get vital support read more
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
Grimsby maternity workers to strike for two weeks in row over back pay, says UNISON (6 Nov) – Maternity support workers in Grimsby are set to strike for two weeks from next Monday (11 November) over their employer’s failure to compensate them fairly for the many years they were paid incorrectly, says UNISON today (Thursday). The staff at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby were moved up a grade last year in recognition of the extra clinical duties they were carrying out. The workers say the hospital needs to reward them for their previous underpaid work read more
UNISON urges employers to implement mpox guidance (6 Nov) – An mpox guide for branches will help support discussions with employers 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
Serco workers at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital to escalate strike action (28 Oct) – Workers will begin their second 48-hour walkout at 7am on Monday 11 November. Caterers, housekeepers, security guards and porters employed by Serco at Great Western Hospital in Swindon will take further strike action in their ongoing dispute over pay, says UNISON today (Monday). Workers will begin their second 48-hour walkout at 7am on Monday 11 November as they demand the same one-off payments already awarded to their NHS colleagues. They previously took action in September 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 will be next on strike on November 18, 19, 22, 25, 26 Knowsley Unison
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
Industrial Action Update in Children’s Social Work Services (9 Nov) – NIPSA moving to CAP caseloads to protect social work members. The purpose of this article is to provide Social Work members with an update on the current industrial action situation in Children’s Social Work services, which is driven by chronic staffing shortages and unsafe workloads. Despite months of discussion with key representatives from the Department of Health and the five HSCT’s and subsequent assurances that an offer was imminent. Negotiators reported that there has been no contact with NIPSA, from the Department since 4 October 2024. Branch Officers from the five HSC Trusts, therefore met this week to review the current situation. It was unanimously agreed that a significant escalation of current action was now unavoidable due to the employer’s inaction. The action agreed will take the form of calling a halt on employers exploitation of our members’ good will and professionalism. NIPSA will move to implement a ‘cap’ or ‘ceiling’ on the number of cases assigned to Social Workers in all Looked After Children (LAC) and Family Support/Family Intervention Services across Northern Ireland. Action being developed, in addition this will include limits on Social Workers supervising contact, limits on Social Workers covering Duty and an extension of current industrial action on private law to include Article 56 work. Given the complications around these issues, and to ensure consistency in this escalation regionally, it was agreed Branches will meet with their members working in these areas, to address any queries this escalation may entail read more
Update in Children’s Social Work Services (8 Nov) – NIPSA moving to CAP Caseloads to Protect Social Work Members. The purpose of this article is to provide Social Work members with an update on the current industrial action situation in Children’s Social Work services, which is driven by chronic staffing shortages and unsafe workloads read more
Royal College of Nursing
Huge increase in nursing staff quitting early poses risk to NHS reforms (11 Nov) – We’re calling on the UK government to substantially raise pay and introduce loan forgiveness measures now read more
COVID inquiry: ‘Why were RCN warnings ignored?’ (5 Nov) – Nursing testimony at the COVID-19 Inquiry has highlighted how the failure to listen to the nursing profession led to inadequate infection prevention guidance and improper supply of PPE, putting staff at risk 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
Increased tuition fees will fuel shortage of midwives, warns RCM (5 Nov) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has warned the Government that the increase of 3.1% in tuition fees, announced today, could exacerbate the existing crisis that is already seeing student midwives being forced out of their chosen career due to financial pressures. Although the uplift is matched with a 3.1% increase in maintenance loans, this doesn’t put students in any better position. Increasing numbers of students are leaving their courses before completion because they simply can’t afford to continue, according to findings of a recent report by the RCM, The State of UK Midwifery Student Finance. The report highlights that three-quarters of midwifery students in England are graduating with debts exceeding £40,000 read more
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 members in Wales vote to accept NHS pay award (7 Nov) – Members in Wales have opted to back the Welsh government’s offer. SoR members based in Wales have “decisively” voted to accept the latest NHS Wales pay award offer, a move that will raise radiographers’ salaries by 5.5 per cent. The Welsh government announced the pay award for staff under the NHS Agenda for Change structure in September 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
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
NEU
Sixth Form College ballot results (11 Nov) – NEU sixth form members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action in their dispute over pay and funding. National Education Union members who teach in sixth form colleges have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action in their dispute over pay and funding. Members across 40 colleges were balloted, achieving a 62% turnout overall and a 97% vote in favour of action. Whilst academised sixth form colleges have been guaranteed funding to implement the same 5.5% pay award as offered to school teachers, this has not been the case for non-academised sixth form colleges. The Department for Education has yet to clarify whether the additional funding for further education announced in the budget, including for sixth form colleges, can be utilised for staff pay read more
Support the following NEU strikes:-
| Wirral SEND Team / Wirral (terms & conditions / pay) | 18-21 Nov | Ian Harris [email protected] |
| Beecroft Garden Primary / Lewisham (redundancies / workload) | 20 Nov | Karina Maloney [email protected] |
| Haggerston School / Hackney (conditions of service) | 20 Nov | David Davies [email protected] |
| Longcroft School & Sixth Form / East Riding (conditions of service) | 20 Nov | Steve Scott [email protected] |
| George Dixon Primary / Birmingham (transfer of employer) | 20-21 Nov | David Room [email protected] |
| New City College (BSix Campus) / Hackney (pay / workload) | 20-21 Nov | David Davies [email protected] |
| SGS Pegasus / South Gloucestershire (conditions of service) | 20-21 Nov | Elly Owen [email protected] |
NASUWT
Newport Council prioritises funding of private service over public education (12 Nov) – NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has raised concerns with Newport Council over the funding of a private company of educational advisors. Newport Council provides the lowest education funding per pupil in Wales whilst continuing to fund the South East Wales Education Achievement Service (EAS), a private advisory service that has had little impact on the achievement of pupils in Newport read more
States must reject attacks on public sector workers (7 Nov) – Amendments tabled to the Budget which propose to halt any opportunity for pay progression for new public sector workers in Guernsey and delete any posts that remain unfilled for more than six months will have damaging and lasting consequences for children, young people and teachers. NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union is calling on the States to reject these amendments in the vote expected today on the Budget 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
INTO
Rally for Unity and Hope – Saturday, 23rd November, 1:00 PM, Larkin Statue, O’Connell Street, Dublin. The trade union movement was built on the simple idea of uniting working people to stand stronger together, both at home and abroad. We are committed to fighting poverty, discrimination, racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, disablism, and fascism. In short, we stand for unity and hope. We stand for solidarity, decent work, and the pursuit of better lives and social justice for all, regardless of background. We are the antithesis of the far-right. Where they sow division, we stand for unity and bold solutions to the challenges faced by working communities, refusing to blame those who come here in search of a better life. Everyone deserves a home, care when ill, decent work, and safe, thriving communities read more
Member Update on Pay and ETI school inspections (6 Nov) – INTO, in conjunction with our teacher union colleagues in NITC (Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council) have been seeking to engage with Management side on Teachers’ Pay for 2024. We have been informed that DE does not yet have a budget and is therefore not in a position to make an offer to the teachers’ unions on pay at this time. The Westminster budget was announced on Wednesday 30 October 2024 detailing money for the Executive. The Stormont executive now need to agree a budget for each department so effective negotiations can begin. The INTO Northern Committee at its most recent meeting in October agreed that, should no acceptable offer be forthcoming, to seek permission to ballot members for industrial action read more
UCU
Tuition fee hike ‘economically and 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
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
Independent review into racism in Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service published (7 Nov) – Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service has today published the findings of its Independent Review into allegations of racism and bullying between 1991 and 2018. After speaking to 40 current and previous staff members and analysing more than 4,500 documents, the review finds that the service had been “institutionally racist”, detailing cases of racist harassment, discrimination and bullying. The report makes 14 recommendations and concludes that there is more work to be done. Chief fire officer Mark Preece, has issued an apology on behalf of the service read more
Bonfire night: Firefighters call for more resources ahead of busiest night of the year (5 Nov) – Firefighters are facing the busiest night of the year without the resources needed to keep the public safe, the Fire Brigades Union has warned. Bonfire night typically sees fire and rescue services respond to a huge number of calls, tackling dangerous fires and firework related incidents. While responding to incidents, firefighters face an increasing risk of attacks. In England, Home Office figures record 967 attacks on firefighters over the year 2023-2024, a 60% increase compared to attacks a decade prior. Meanwhile, one-in-five firefighter jobs (21%) across the UK have been cut since 2010 – more than 12,000 jobs. This has had a significant impact on the resilience of the fire and rescue service, slowing response times down and leaving the service without urgent capacity during busy periods. The Fire Brigades Union has called on the government to provide investment needed to rebuild the fire and rescue service 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
BFAWU
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
Nautilus International
RFA officers overwhelmingly vote to continue strike action (6 Nov) – Nautilus International members at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) have voted by an overwhelming majority to continue both strike action and action short of strike. Even more members voted in favour of industrial action than the first ballot in early 2024, strengthening the Union’s mandate in the fight for fair pay at a service where wages have shrunk by 30% in real terms since 2010. The Union was required by law to reballot members in order to continue industrial action, which began with action short of strike on 1 June and has since escalated to include five days of full strike action – the first strikes in the history of the organisation. However, the mandate for industrial action is now even stronger after the government’s failure to put forward a serious pay offer. On a turnout of 63%, 97% of members voted for action short of strike and 90% voted for strike action. In the previous ballot, the turnout was 60% with 79% voting yes to strike action and 85% voting yes to action short of strike read more
NUJ
NAIC reps gather for annual summit (12 Nov) – Newspapers and Industrial Council (NAIC) reps met to discuss priority issues spanning organising to pay. This year’s summit took place in Birmingham on 9 November, with representatives from across the union’s sector chapels read more
NUJ condemns National World cuts as company U-turns on commitments (8 Nov) – The National World group chapel has called on the publisher to rethink proposals of cuts to reporter and editor posts in Sunderland and Manchester, recognising its effect on local journalism. The National Union of Journalists has condemned National World’s plans to cut journalists jobs in Sunderland and Manchester, following an announcement to staff this week. The NUJ National World group chapel says new proposals run contrary to the stated strategy of having local editors when David Montgomery, National World executive chairman, took control of the company read more
NUJ Disabled Members’ Council calls for action to address the disability pay gap (7 Nov) – Thursday 7 November is ‘Disability Pay Gap Day’, the day when the average disabled person stops getting paid compared to the average non-disabled person read more
Industrial action over sale of The Observer avoidable, says NUJ (7 Nov) – Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, has called for greater transparency from the Guardian Media Group, urging engagement with the union that resolves the dispute. The NUJ is balloting journalists at the Guardian & Observer over their willingness to participate in industrial action, as part of its dispute with Guardian Media Group opposing the sale of The Observer. The union has voiced its concerns shared by journalists at both titles about the impact a sale to Tortoise Media would have on jobs, the title’s trusted journalism, and its future ability to withstand headwinds of the media industry. The ballot closing on 19 November follows an overwhelming indicative ballot in favour of industrial action. 93 per cent of journalists confirmed their willingness to strike, with 96 per cent in favour of action short of a strike 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
Welsh National Opera Chorus strike action update (8 Nov) – Industrial action short of strike is ramped up and strikes planned for February. Equity members of the Chorus at Welsh National Opera today agreed to postpone planned strike action set for Friday 15 November, but other industrial action will continue. Further talks are expected and both sides hope to build on progress made in recent weeks. However, Equity members are clear that the situation cannot drag out, and strike action is now planned for 6, 7 and 8 February 2025 if the dispute is not resolved, in addition to further industrial action short of strike. The 30-strong Chorus are taking action to save jobs and prevent compulsory redundancies. Industrial action short of strike has seen Chorus members wear campaign t-shirts on stage during curtain calls, make speeches to the audience from the stage, demonstrate outside venues, and hand out campaign leaflets as audiences arrive read more
Artists encouraged to contact Equity over Summerhall non-payments (8 Nov) – Equity is dealing with cases of members who are owed money from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival venue read more
Tower Hamlets Council say Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club can only be used as a cultural venue (5 Nov) – Equity is encouraging people to sign an open letter calling on Tower Hamlets Council to save the venue by buying it and leasing it back to a community group read more
Musicians’’ Union
Michael Sheen Backs Campaign to Protect Welsh National Opera (8 Nov) – Michael Sheen shared his solidarity with musicians in the Welsh National Opera orchestra and urged people to email their MP in support of the campaign to protect WNO 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
Musicians’ Unions Worldwide Back Call to Save Northern Ballet’s Orchestra (5 Nov) – The International Federation of Musicians backs Northern Ballet Sinfonia in a message of solidarity signed by over 20 musicians’ unions worldwide read more
Community
Call for investment in sovereign capabilities needed for defence (11 Nov) – Community Union is calling for government investment in sovereign capabilities needed for defence read more
Dental nurses deserve a pay rise (6 Nov) – Responding to announcements on the minimum wage in last week’s budget, Tiffany Gillies, Assistant Director of Operations at Community Union, said: “We welcome the increase in the minimum wage in last week’s budget, and the Labour government’s wider intent to move towards a genuine living wage for all workers. At the same time, inadequate pay continues to blight dental nursing as a profession, and remains a significant barrier to progression and recruitment and retention within the sector. As things stand, there is no provision to cover dental nurses’ renumeration in the NHS budget, so these vital workers are left entirely to the discretion of their direct employers when it comes to pay. That has left the door open for unequal pay practices and huge inconsistency in wages across different practices…” read more
Public procurement: a powerful tool for workers’ rights and a fairer economy (5 Nov) – Too many workers across the UK are struggling in low-wage, insecure jobs with conditions that risk their health and well-being. The result? A workforce stretched to the breaking point, and communities bearing the weight. But there’s a way to begin to change this: public procurement. Every year, £390 billion in public money flows into public contracts that touch every sector 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
Respect for Shop Workers Week 2024: Shop theft remains the biggest trigger for violence, threats and abuse – an Usdaw survey shows (10 Nov) – Retail trade union Usdaw has today launched shocking statistics from its annual survey at the beginning of this year’s Respect for Shop Workers Week. Results show unacceptable levels of verbal abuse, threats and assaults against retail staff, primarily caused by theft from shops 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
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
“We call Scrooge”! Hundreds of Harrods workers preparing to strike over Xmas bonus and more! (11 Nov) – “There’s a real sense that everyone’s fed up and has had enough, and we’re ready to push for more. It feels like they throw us breadcrumbs and expect us to accept it, while they only seem to care about their own business interests. It’s on us to stand up and ensure workers are protected, and we’re prepared to strike to make that happen” – Alice Howick, Harrods waiter and member of UVW. Instead of a Christmas carol, Harrods is singing from the same old tune of neglect Much like a modern-day Scrooge, Harrods is denying Christmas bonuses, fair wages and working conditions for its dedicated workforce, prioritising profits and paying grotesque sums to its owners – among the richest people in the world. Hundreds of workers across Harrods’ retail, restaurant, kitchen and cleaning departments have had enough and yet again are going to be balloted for strike action over the busy Christmas season unless the luxury London store promptly addresses their demands. This will be UVW’s fifth campaign at Harrods, following four previous wins for tips, substantial pay rises and against unfair leave policies read more
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
Day 1: Thursday 14 Nov
7.30 – 10am Protest at eCourier HQ (206 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1AA)
10am – 12pm Motorcade visiting eCouriers clients (bring your bike)
Day 2: Friday 15 Nov
8.30 – 10am: Protest at the office of HCA – a big client of eCourier (2 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PU)
10am – 12pm: Motorcade visiting HCA practices
Find out more about the couriers’ strikes on the X/twitter of the IWGB Couriers’ branch @IWGB_CLB
SIPTU (Ireland)
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
CRAMLINGTON Train Wreckers Play – tour dates
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
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. www.cramlingtontrainwreckers.co.uk
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 dropping of the charges 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
Philippines: journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio testifies in Tacloban (11 Nov) – The journalist detained since February 2020 on charges of illegal firearm possession and terrorist financing appeared in court on 11 November. The National Union of Journalists joins the International Federation of Journalists and its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), in calling for the immediate release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio 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
