This week’s NSSN bulletin headlines with two events this week that the NSSN is supporting.
On Friday, Strike Map has called a Mega Picket to support the longstanding Unite strike by the Birmingham binworkers against the brutal attack on the pay and terms & conditions by the Labour council.
On Saturday, education union UCU has organised a national demonstration against the funding crisis in further and higher education.
Mega Picket to support Unite Birmingham Bin Strike, called by Strike Map – 6am Friday 9th May, Lifford Lane Depot, Birmingham B30 3JJ Strike Map Facebook page
Book your seat on the coach from London, leaving 4am Eventbrite
UCU Stop the Cuts national, cross-sector demonstration in Central London Saturday 10 May
Meeting point: 13:00 at Bessborough Gardens, London SW1V 2JE
March: 13:15-13:45 from Bessborough Gardens to Old Palace Yard
Speeches and rally cries: 14:00-16:00 at Old Palace Yard, London SW1P 3JY
Sign petition against the education cuts
Unite: Birmingham council real plans laid bare as it now announces savage cuts for bin drivers (29 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has said the council’s decision to now cut bin lorry drivers’ pay shows an escalation in the dispute and the council’s real plans to use workers’ pay as a way to cut costs.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Today’s actions show clearly that Unite has been correct all along. Birmingham City Council is taking money off workers to pay off their debt to the government. Workers are again paying the price for bad decision after bad decision. Indeed the West Midlands Labour Mayor Richard Parker has let the cat out of the bag “the strikes are a consequence of being asked to do more with less” he said.
Sharon Graham continued: “Unite will not stand by and allow the council and this Labour government to inflict these savage pay cuts on workers. It is completely unjustified and a clear escalation of the dispute. It will not be accepted. No worker should be expected to lose these eye-watering amounts of money from their pay packet. The government has protected a Labour council that has been treating workers in this outrageous way. It is no wonder Labour is increasingly not seen as the party of workers. They should hang their heads in shame.’
Under the council’s plans the pay rate of drivers will reduce from £40,000 to £32,000, a pay cut of £8,000, a fifth of their income. Last week Unite said that it believed that a deal to end the long running bin strike could be “within touching distance” provided the council did not cut the pay of drivers. The council’s decision to cut the pay of bin drivers, exposes public statements made by council leader John Cotton that no worker “need lose pay” as a lie. Unite is calling on John Cotton, leader of the council to be present at the ACAS talks. He can hide no longer. The Labour government has a clear role in this dispute. The council’s financial problems are directly linked to its £3.9 billion debt, which is owned by the government. If the government restructured or reduced the debt the council would not need to cut workers’ pay.
Sharon Graham added: “John Cotton has said ‘no worker needs to lose pay’. Therefore, he needs to be at Acas talks this week and turn this comment into reality or step down for lying to the public. Also the government who owns the council debt and are profiteering from it, cannot simply sit on its hands. If this was any other employer apart from a Labour council, they would be calling them out for slashing workers’ pay.
Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “Today’s announcement makes it clear the council have been playing games. It has had no intention of resolving this dispute and protecting workers, this is all about cutting workers’ pay and plunging them into financial misery.” Read more
Sign petition to support binworkers
Send a message of support to Unite and the binworkers
Donate to the strike fund – Unite WM/7186 Branch, account: 20308397, sort code: 608301. Title donation: BCC Strike Donation
NSSN Annual Conference 2025 – Make the rich pay not workers!
11am-4.30pm Saturday 5th July in Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Attendance fee – £10 Facebook event
Confirmed speakers – Steve Gillan POA General Secretary, Steve Wright FBU General Secretary, Annoesjka Valent NAPO National Official
This year’s NSSN Conference will be on the theme ‘Make the rich pay not workers!’ This is when the Starmer New Labour government is looking to slash budgets at the same time as councils make cuts, the NHS is under massive pressure and higher education is in crisis. This is alongside recessionary signs in the private sector, with threats to jobs while the cost of living squeeze remains.
A major part of our conference and our activity will be about the need for the trade union movement to organise against Starmer and Reeves’s austerity and the bosses’ offensive. Our conference will also demand the immediate repeal of the Tory anti-union laws, including the undemocratic voting thresholds, promised by Starmer but still in force despite his government being elected with a 160 seat plus majority last July. It will also be a platform for union reps and members from the growing number of disputes to speak about their action. We will continue to support workers’ struggles and publicise them in this, our weekly NSSN bulletin.
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Affiliate your union branch/trades council to NSSN (£50).
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Cheque (NSSN, 16 Warren Rd, E10 5QA).
Contact us: email – [email protected].
Peoples Assembly demonstration: Austerity is a political choice, welfare not warfare, stop the far-right, stop the cuts – Saturday 7th June in Central London
Union News
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RMT
RMT demands end to outsourcing on Britain’s railways (6 May) – Rail union RMT, today launched its campaign to end outsourcing on the railways, branding the practice as a vehicle for systemic racism, low pay, and poor service standards across the network. A new RMT report, How Outsourcing Embeds Systemic Racism on the Railway, exposes how thousands of rail workers—predominantly from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities—are trapped in outsourced roles with no pensions, no training, and no pathway to progression read more
Major RMT victory for collective bargaining at Rail Gourmet (30 Apr) – RMT has secured a big win after Rail Gourmet agreed to full union recognition and a collective bargaining agreement following months of sustained industrial pressure from members. The company has now conceded to all of the union’s demands and will sign a comprehensive recognition agreement in a major reversal of its long-standing refusal to engage properly with trade unions in the workplace. As a result, the strike action due to take place from Friday 2 May to Monday 5 May has been cancelled read more
ASLEF
ASLEF: Drivers at Hull Trains take strike action tomorrow (17 Apr) – Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, and Dave Calfe, president of ASLEF’s executive committee, will join Nigel Roebuck, ASLEF’s full-time organiser in the north-east of England, and lead officer with Hull Trains, on the picket line at the front of the railway station in Hull tomorrow [Friday]. ASLEF members at Hull Trains are taking industrial action in defence of a driver who has been unfairly sacked and has done nothing wrong read more
Unite
Unite secures recognition agreement for Sodexo workers at Sullom Voe terminal (6 May) – Shetland based members secure better jobs, pay and conditions. Unite can reveal today (Tuesday 6 May) that it has delivered its latest recognition agreement at the Sullom Voe terminal in the Shetland Islands this time for Sodexo workers. The Sodexo recognition agreement covers over 30 workers who provide catering and facility management services. This includes roles such as catering, cleaning , warehouse and logistics, garage services, and pest control read more
Bus strikes in Telford averted after Unite members vote to accept an improved pay deal (6 May) – Industrial action that would have had a significant impact on bus services in Telford, Shropshire, has been called off after members at Arriva Midlands voted to accept a pay deal. Over one hundred drivers, who are members of Unite, had voted to take strike action after years of below inflation pay increases, which left them worse off than drivers in other areas of the West Midlands. Strikes which were scheduled to start today (6 May) with several other dates over the next three months – but the drivers, who were on £13.36 an hour, will now see their pay go up to £14 an hour from July 2024, backdated, with a further increase to £14.45 in July this year read more
Unite delivers pay deal for East Kilbride based Merson Signs (6 May) – Improved pay and T&Cs for workers with no industrial action needed. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, has successfully negotiated improved pay and terms and conditions for its members at Merson Signs based in East Kilbride. Around 20 Unite members will benefit from a five per cent on average increase due to a reduction in the working week of two hours with no loss of pay, and a four day working week. There is also an element of pay backdated to the 1 January on the basis of this new working agreement which is worth up to £250. Unite members previously backed industrial action by 100 per cent in order to secure the pay award but the threat of strike action resulted in a revised offer from Merson’s which was accepted by the workers read more
ASML refusal to engage highlights need for collective bargaining legislation (5 May) – ‘Case closed’ says WRC after Dutch tech giant refuses to engage. Unite, which organises workers in ASML in Maynooth, today (Monday) said that the company’s refusal to engage collectively with the workforce highlights the need for legislation providing for statutory union recognition and collective bargaining. The European Union Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages requires member states to work towards a collective bargaining coverage target of 80 per cent. Ireland’s coverage is currently estimated at just 34 per cent read more
Disruption expected at Gatwick Airport as strikes intensify (2 May) – Unite members at Red Handling and Redline Oil will take industrial action in the coming weeks including May half term. There will be double the disruption at London Gatwick Airport in May and June as workers represented by Unite at two firms are set to strike, with some overlap in the industrial action. Plane refuellers from Redline Oil Services Ltd, who work for airlines including easyJet, are walking out in a dispute about pay. Gatwick is the low-cost airline’s biggest hub. The Redline workers have voted to strike after rejecting an offer of 3.5 per cent over two years. The two sets of four-day strikes by the Redline staff, who perform essential work ensuring aircraft have the necessary fuel for their flights, will lead to cancelled and delayed flights including in the early part of the May half term – a peak travel period for Gatwick Airport. The first strike will begin on 16 May. Meanwhile, following the Easter weekend strike by Red Handling, over a 100 workers from the company including baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers will walk out again for four consecutive Sunday’s (see notes to editors for full dates) including those on either side of the May half term. With the first strike occurring on May 11 read more
Unite responds to Premier Inn owner Whitbread’s full year results (1 May) – Unite, the union for hospitality workers, has responded to Premier Inn owner Whitbread’s full year results. The firm has recorded its second-biggest pre-tax profit of the last five years, after continual profit throughout the past 15 years apart from in 2021, during the Covid pandemic. However, Unite members at Whitbread have struggled with low pay, with the company refusing to pay the real living wage of £12.60 and £13.85 in London despite Unite and others pressing them to make this commitment read more
Grangemouth closure and Blair’s net zero intervention, must be wake up call for government warns Unite (30 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has today (30 April) called on the UK government to fundamentally rethink its approach to net zero policies and industrial strategy. Unite’s intervention comes a day after it was announced that the Grangemouth oil refinery has ceased refining oil and former prime minister Tony Blair warned that the present policy is “doomed to fail”. The union warns that the government must now deliver an industrial strategy underpinned by a fully funded workers’ transition, or net zero will become a political millstone around Labour’s neck read more
Unite launches hotline for tenants let down by Knowsley based union-busting Livv Housing (30 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has launched a hotline for residents of union-busting housing association Livv Housing Group. Tenants of Livv Housing, based in Knowsley, Merseyside can register their concerns with Unite by calling 07586982889, scanning a QR code on a leaflet or emailing [email protected]. Residents of the social housing firm, whose management are currently at the centre of a dispute with Unite over pay, have previously complained of issues with the quality of repairs and responses to complaints, as well as long delays in fixing reported issues – and now Unite are offering them a forum to get in touch. It comes on the back of Unite general secretary Sharon Graham visiting the picket line in Knowsley to address and support striking Livv Housing yesterday (29 April)… The workers are currently undertaking 11 days of strike action between mid-April and the end of May. Further industrial action is likely if the dispute is not resolved read more
Migrant HCAs: Oireachtas members hear demands for family reunification (30 Apr) – “Care is what we do – so let us care for our families”. Representatives of Unite the union, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and Migrant Nurses Ireland today (Wednesday) spoke at an Oireachtas briefing hosted by Ruth Coppinger TD to outline workers’ demands for reform of Department of Justice rules which can see migrant Health Care Assistants (HCAs) and other employment permit holders separated from their families for years read more
TotalEnergies workers balloted for strike action (25 Apr) – Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms at risk of major disruption. Unite the union announced today (25 April) that offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies are being balloted for strike action. Around 50 Unite members based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms are involved in an escalating dispute after the overwhelming rejection of an unacceptable pay offer. The dispute centres on the pay claim for 2025 which should take effect from 1 January. TotalEnergies originally offered a 1.5 per cent basic salary increase, which after being overwhelmingly rejected by the workers, was minimally increased to 1.75 per cent. The latest offer which also amounts to a real terms pay cut was similarly rejected. The ballot covering the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms opens on 29 April and closes on 2 June read more
Hundreds of Dundee university workers back strike action (25 Apr) – Unite steps up campaign in defence of jobs at STUC Congress next week. Unite the union can confirm today (25 April) that hundreds of Dundee university workers have overwhelmingly backed strike action in the fight for jobs and the institution’s long-term future. Unite represents hundreds of workers at the university in professional services roles including technicians and student support. Unite is backing demands for the Scottish government’s external taskforce involving unions and other key stakeholders to spearhead measures to protect hundreds of livelihoods and sustain the future of the university. As part of the initial discussions, the union has welcomed the removal of an initial threat to workers that they could face redundancy as the university grapples with a £35m deficit. The interim principal Shane O’Neill stated in a recent letter to the Scottish parliament that over 700 jobs could be at immediate risk…On Tuesday (29 April) following an emergency motion on the crisis facing Dundee university tabled by Unite at the STUC Annual Congress, a rally outside the Caird Hall involving trade unionists, community activists, students and workers will take place. A march involving trade unions and students will also assemble at the university’s Tower Building at noon which will then set off to join STUC delegates for the rally at 12:30 PM outside the Caird Hall read more
Passenger assistance staff at Heathrow escalate strike action (23 Apr) – Workers at Wilson James head to picket line – now joined by managers. Around 500 Heathrow Wilson James workers providing assistance to passengers with restricted mobility (PRM) are taking further strike action beginning tomorrow (24 April). The Wilson James workers are angry at being paid considerably less than their colleagues at Gatwick despite performing the same role. Wilson James workers at Heathrow walk an average of 13 miles a day while providing transport across the airport, emotional reassurance and kindness to passengers who are often stressed and overwhelmed…The Wilson James PRM staff will be on strike on the following dates: 24, 25, 29, and 30 April 2025. Additionally, their managers will be joining the strike action starting on 1 May 2025, after they also voted in favour of industrial action read more
Stagecoach bus services across west of Scotland to stop in May as pay dispute escalates (23 Apr) – No breakthrough in talks after 500 Unite members reject ‘unacceptable’ pay offer. Unite the union can confirm today (23 April) that 500 Stagecoach drivers are set to bring bus services across the west of Scotland to a stop. Unite members voted by 98 per cent to undertake industrial action on a high turnout following the rejection of an “unacceptable” four per cent pay offer by Stagecoach West Scotland. Unite has said despite ongoing talks with the company a significantly improved pay offer has not been put to the drivers who operate out of several depots in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan, Dumfries, Kilmarnock and Stranraer. Strike action will now take place over a series of days including 2, 6, 9, 12, 16, 19, and 23 May read more
Striking Ealing traffic wardens protest outside Parliament over local MPs’ inaction (22 Apr) – Demonstration held as letters of complaint against MPs Deirdre Costigan and James Murray sent to standards commissioner. Striking Ealing civil enforcement officers will protest outside of parliament tomorrow (23 April) over union-busting, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers are angry at the ‘disgraceful’ lack of support from their local MPs Deirdre Costigan and James Murray. The civil enforcement officers, who are employed by Greener Ealing, began industrial action in August 2024 over the council-controlled company’s refusal to recognise their union, Unite. Since then, four wardens have been sacked on trumped up charges while they were taking strike action read more. Send messages of support to Patrice 07915 064797 – Unite rep of Ealing Parking Assistants who has been sacked (along with 3 others) for leading strike action
Strike action at Scottish Water to escalate (22 Apr) – Union criticises public body for ‘watering down’ pay offer. Further strike action is set to hit Scottish Water as the dispute over pay at the public body escalates. 48-hour strike action will take place on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd April involving Unite’s 500-strong membership at offices and wastewater treatment works across the whole of Scotland with the union warning more industrial action is ‘likely’. Unite will stage protests and photo call: When & Where: 9.30 a.m. Tuesday 22 April & Wednesday 23 April at Shieldhall Depot and Clatto Water Treatment Works, Dundee.
Unite continues to criticise Scottish Water executives for using talks through the conciliation service Acas as a device to ‘water down’ a pay offer made to the workforce, and to fall back on an inferior offer made last year. The ‘watered down’ offer amounts to a basic pay rise of 3.4 per cent or £1,050 for those on the lowest grades over a nine-month period read more
Bus services across Telford under threat as workers ballot for strikes over pay (4 Apr) – Bus services in Telford, Shropshire could stop from next month, as over a hundred drivers ballot for strikes over pay, Unite has announced. The drivers have not had a pay rise during the last year and currently earn £13.36 an hour – 11 per cent less than the West Midlands average of £14.93. They have also had years of below-inflation pay rises, leaving them feeling ‘shortchanged’ by their employer but work long hours as well as early, late and weekend shifts…The ballot closes on 17 April. If it is successful, industrial action could take place in early May. Any strike action will have a serious impact on all bus services running in the Telford area read more
Unite general secretary joins Manchester Capita picket line (2 Apr) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will be joining striking workers employed by Capita on the Royal London contact in Manchester tomorrow (Thursday 3 April)… The workers are employed in Capita’s life and pensions division where they work on the contract for insurance giant Royal London. The dispute is a result of the failure of Capita to make a pay offer for 2024, effectively attempting to force a pay freeze on its workforce…The current strike action began on Wednesday 26 March and continues until Monday 7 April. There will then be a separate period of action which begins on 7 April and continues until Tuesday 22 April. Prior to the current industrial action, the workers had already taken 13 days of industrial action, which began at the end of January read more
Liverpool lab workers ballot for strikes over patient safety fears (31 Mar) – Unite members working at the microbiology department at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories (which is part of the hospital trust) and play a key role in diagnosing infections at the hospital, analysing blood and tissue samples before a clinician uses the results to decide on a course of treatment such as antibiotics or surgery. But short staffing means some test results are taking three or four days to come back. This is preventing patients from promptly getting the treatment they need and could be putting people at risk of fatal infections such as sepsis, which can kill within 24 hours if left untreated…The Unite ballot closes on 15 April. Strikes could begin in late April read more
Housing workers in Southwark to take further strike action over annual leave disgrace (31 Mar) – Workers to walk out as council gives more leave to those on higher salaries. Nearly 160 essential housing and estate services workers in the London Borough of Southwark will strike tomorrow (1 April) over the council’s disgraceful approach to annual leave. Unite members, who perform vital repairs and maintenance on council-owned housing stock and the council’s own properties get up to 12 fewer days annual leave than management grades in administrative positions. The lowest paid technicians get two fewer days than higher paid colleagues in the housing and estates department. Despite negotiations by Unite, the council has refused to compromise or offer additional leave to housing workers to bring them up to the same level. Workers will now head to the picket line to voice their anger on 1 April read more
Bus services across Surrey and Hampshire under threat as workers ballot for strikes (31 Mar) – Unite members at Stagecoach to vote on industrial action after colleagues sacked without cause. Over a hundred drivers could take strike action later this spring after colleagues were unfairly dismissed, the Unite trade union announced today. Workers at Stagecoach South’s Aldershot depot who drive buses across Hampshire and Surrey are being balloted on strike action. This follows a campaign by the bus company to harass and intimidate Aldershot Branch officials that has seen two Branch officials unfairly dismissed. Unite members are furious at the treatment of two colleagues, the branch chair and the equalities rep, who were sacked on highly dubious grounds…The ballot opened on 25 March and closes on 14 April. If the ballot is successful, industrial action will take place later this spring. Any strike action will have a serious impact on all bus services running from the Aldershot depot read more
Majority of workers at Sheffield refuse site want Unite recognition agreement (28 Mar) – Unite, GMB and non-unionised staff at Veolia depot want recognition for workers on strike. A petition signed by nearly 150 workers at a Sheffield refuse depot is proof that Unite members should have their union officially recognised. Unite members at the Lumley Street depot have been on strike since August seeking official recognition of their union by Veolia. The firm have so far refused to allow such recognition on the basis they already recognise another union (GMB). But a petition circulated among all workers at the depot has collected nearly 150 signatories calling on Veolia to recognise Unite. This shows that the petition shows huge support among other union and non-union members of staff…Unite is continuing its campaign of targeting Veolia’s worldwide operations and major shareholders. Activists have previously been in cities across Europe and this week are in Madrid to demonstrate at the offices of Veolia and its financial backers read more
Unite ballots 700 Aberdeen council workers over ‘fire and rehire’ proposals (28 Mar) – Scottish Government accused of ‘ignoring’ bullying tactics by SNP led administration. Over 700 Unite workers at Aberdeen City Council are being balloted on strike action over ‘fire and re-hire’ proposals. The council has tabled a proposal to unilaterally impose a cut of two hours in the working week to 35-hours. The proposal if enacted would cut workers’ wages by up to 104 hours per year, impacting over 3,000 workers in one of Scotland’s largest councils. Unite has warned that widespread industrial action would lead to a significant reduction in provision for some of the city’s most vital services. The ballot opens today (Friday 28 March) and closes on 14 April read more
Hampshire cable workers could strike over Prysmian’s ‘disgraceful’ plans to offshore BT work (26 Mar) – Prysmian Bishopstoke plans to cut 40 jobs and scrap only department of its kind in UK. Prysmian Bishopstoke telecom cable workers may strike over plans to cut 40 jobs and close the only department of its kind left in the UK, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Prysmian wants to move production for cables primarily for BT from Bishopstoke to Romania. The plan is designed to reduce labour costs despite Prysmian admitting to Unite during initial consultations that the Hampshire factory, which opened as the Telephone Cable Factory in 1967, is profitable. The factory’s workers are set to begin a consultative ballot for industrial action over the plans read more
John Crane workers in Slough set to strike after a decade of below-inflation pay rises (26 Mar) – Unite members at engineering firm John Crane are set to strike from next month over pay. The 40 workers based in Slough have rejected a final pay offer of three per cent. This follows a decade of below-inflation pay increases, as well as receiving no pay award during Covid despite working through it and having their final salary pensions taken away in 2009. However, last year the previous CEO was awarded a 22 per cent increase and his severance package will see him drawing a pay packet until 2026. Strike action will take place on 3, 10, 17, 22 April and 1 and 6 May. The John Crane workers make mechanical engineering seals for bearings and pumps for the oil and gas industry read more
Exam disruption looming as Liverpool Uni staff ballot for strikes over back to campus diktat (20 Mar) – Students in Liverpool are facing major disruption during key exam and clearing periods as hundreds of members of Unite employed at the University of Liverpool ballot for industrial action over changes to hybrid working. Over 340 professional services staff, including administrative employees who play a key part during these times, are currently being balloted after they were told they must have a minimum of 60 per cent attendance working on-site from 1 April 2025. Since the end of the Covid lockdown, staff undertaking hybrid working have been asked to work from campus two days a week. However, university management, at the behest of the university’s vice chancellor, have “unilaterally” mandated them to increase their time spent working on site, claiming this requirement is necessary for team working, without adequate negotiation with the workers read more
TfL enforcement officers vital for safety and security intensify strike action (19 Mar) – Workers dealing with violence and aggression being paid thousands less than London Underground colleagues doing same job. Pay strikes by hundreds of officers within the Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security Directorate (CPOS) at Transport for London (TfL) have intensified. The workers, who deal with violence and aggression across the TfL network to keep the passengers and staff safe, are paid thousands less than their counterparts on the London Underground. In some cases, the difference can be an astonishing £27,000 a year despite the roles being equivalent. Strike action began in December, following the imposition of a pay offer by TfL that had been overwhelming rejected by the workers as unacceptable. Further industrial action was taken in February, with fresh strikes to take place on 20, 21 and 22 March read more
Strike action by infectious disease prevention team at Guys and St Thomas’ hospitals escalates (17 Mar) – NHS trust not willing to provide decent facilities for staff to wash themselves after shifts. Senior staff get vastly better conditions. Strike action is to escalate at Guys and St Thomas’ hospitals by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) responsible for controlling the spread of infections after the trust refused to improve the appalling facilities the staff have to use after their shifts. Over 40 members of the Unite trade union who work in the RRT are to take part in a second round of strike action after no improvements to their working conditions or commitments to do so have been made by the trust. RRT staff work long shifts in unpleasant conditions, cleaning and sterilising areas of the hospital to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases. Yet the trust has failed to provide adequate welfare facilities such as showers, changing areas, rest areas or toilets for staff to use before, during and after their shifts. Workers will now strike from 17-28 March inclusive to highlight their plight and put pressure on the trust to improve their working conditions. Staff are also unhappy about their job description and grading that means they are among the lowest paid workers in the hospital earning barely above minimum wage read more
Striking Heathrow British Airways cleaners protest at airline’s HQ over poverty pay (14 Mar) – Demonstrations also hit employer OCS as industrial action escalates. Striking workers employed by facilities services firm OCS to clean British Airway’s offices at Heathrow will protest outside the airline’s headquarters in London. The workers, who are on strike over poverty pay, will also stage a demonstration outside OCS’ Feltham offices read more
NI Ambulance workers vote for industrial action in shift dispute (11 Mar) – Management proposals risk leaving areas without adequate ambulance cover and are an attempt to make paramedics pay the price for a staffing crisis they did not cause. Paramedics and ambulance workers in Unite have voted decisively for industrial action in a recent consultative ballot. In total 86 per cent indicated a willingness to take strike action on management proposals to impose a new shift system. The new shifts were to be piloted in the South Eastern health and social care area for a year and would see a significant reduction in ambulance cover at nighttime. While the new shifts are only being trialled in the South East they will impact ambulance services across Northern Ireland. Existing NIAS cover arrangements see ambulances travel from across Northern Ireland to cover shortfalls. The new shifts will increase the likelihood for such long journeys which then has a knock-on impact leaving other areas, especially rural ones, with insufficient cover read more
HSE: Unite serves notice of industrial action over staffing crisis (10 Mar) – Unite, which represents a range of grades across the Health Services Executive (HSE), said today (Monday) that it has served notice of industrial action over the staffing crisis resulting from the HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers Strategy.’ Last year it emerged that, despite the HSE’s claim that a recruitment ban had ended, vacancies are being benchmarked against the 2024 headcount. The result is that any vacancies unfilled in 2023 have effectively been lost to the health service, leaving a staffing shortfall of over 2,000 posts read more
Royal Navy tugboat crew strikes suspended for talks (6 Mar) – Consultations over Devonport, Portsmouth, Faslane, Great Harbour Greenock and Kyle of Lochalsh Serco Marine services to go ahead. Strikes by around 300 Serco Marine workers providing Royal Navy afloat services have been suspended, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Following talks with the MoD, Serco and the Royal Navy, Unite has agreed to suspend strike action at Devonport, Portsmouth, Faslane, Great Harbour Greenock and Kyle of Lochalsh. Serco has agreed to delay signing its new contract with the MoD to allow for 30 days of union consultations read more
Eurotunnel maintenance workers to take strike action over pay (5 Mar) – Unite members at Eurotunnel to walk out for five Sundays after talks break down. Following a breakdown in negotiations, drivers and maintenance crew working at Eurotunnel Services Ltd are to take strike action throughout March. Around a dozen members will walk out after rejecting a pay offer from the employer. Unite’s members do highly skilled and safety-critical work for Eurotunnel and Le Shuttle ensuring tunnels and track are in good working conditions read more
Heathrow passenger assistance workers ballot for strikes over pay (26 Feb) – Nearly 450 Wilson James Heathrow workers demand pay parity with Gatwick colleagues. Nearly 450 Heathrow workers providing assistance to passengers with restricted mobility (PRM) are being balloted for strike action over pay. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the workers are angry at being paid an average of 9.5 per cent less than Wilson James staff at Gatwick performing the same role. Wilson James’ reported gross profits of £35.4 million for the year ending July 2024, with the company’s gross turnover increasing by 17.7 per cent from the previous year. Heathrow Airport Limited, meanwhile, reported a profit before tax of £696 million in the nine months to 30 September 2024 read more
Go North East workers consulted for strike action amid reign of terror by management (17 Feb) – Staff threatened with dismissal on spurious grounds. Safety of drivers and passengers in danger. Out-of-control management at a bus company in the North East of England has forced over 1,000 workers to be consulted on next steps, including the possibility of strike action, the Unite union announced today. Drivers and engineers at Go North East, based in depots across Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham, have been forced to the brink by a dangerous management culture that has seen drivers threatened with dismissal, suspended and sent home from work when health and safety issues are raised. Workers have been forced to resign, and management has imposed what one worker described as a “dictatorship” with “my way or the highway” style practices. Go North East has created a culture of fear to discourage members raising genuine safety concerns on behalf of passengers and drivers. Such behaviours are widely seen by union members as retribution by management after workers won a well-deserved pay rise after a bitter industrial battle in 2023 read more
Wrexham Oscar Mayer fire and rehire workers ballot to extend long running strikes (10 Feb) – Long running strike action at Wrexham’s Oscar Mayer ready meal factory is set to stretch into the summer as workers ballot to extend industrial action. Around 550 Oscar Mayer workers have been striking since last September over the company’s attempt to slash pay by up to £3,000 a year by firing and rehiring them on inferior contracts. The workers are now being balloted to extend strike action over the dismissal of a handful of colleagues during the industrial action. Oscar Mayer disgracefully sacked the workers after they sent a letter stating they would be working under duress under the revised terms the company wants to impose read more
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Send messages of protest to [email protected]
CWU
CWU LIVE – Updates on the EP Group Takeover w/ Dave Ward, Martin Walsh and Luke Elgar (1 May) – Dave Ward and Martin Walsh update on the EP Group takeover of Royal Mail. NEC Member Luke Elgar will also be in the studio to dive deeper and answer members questions and comments livewatch video
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]
“I am more productive than I have ever been, working from home” (2 May) – A solidarity rally was held today for members at the Independent Office for Police Conduct, in dispute with their employer over a return to the office and restructuring. Members working in the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who are in dispute with their employer over mandated days in the office and jobs being affected by a 3-year restructure, attended an online solidarity rally today read more
HMRC Benton Park View strike extended (2 May) – Strike action in defence of the three sacked PCS reps will now continue until Friday 6 June. PCS members working in Employer Services at Benton Park View have been on strike since 23 December in support of three reps who were sacked by HMRC. Gordon Askew, Rachel Farmer and Joel Hamilton were dismissed at the end of last year because of their trade union activity. PCS has informed HMRC that the strike action will now continue until Friday 6 June. Members working in the branch report that backlogs continue to grow and the services to the customer continue to deteriorate, while members in other areas have reported calls being received from agents who would usually have called the Employer Services (ES) Helpline but who have become frustrated by long waits and even calls being blocked due to the volumes of outstanding calls read more. Take action, show your support and send solidarity messages to the reps and branch, email HMRC group secretary Steve Swainston: [email protected] read more. Members can also support the campaign by donating to the fighting fund. Donations can be made to the PCS account with the reference ‘BPV Strikes’ –
- Account name: PCS Fighting Fund
- Levy account number: 20331490
- Sort code: 60-83-01
Ofgem staff balloted for strike action (1 May) – Members working for Ofgem are in dispute over pay, jobs, office attendance and industrial relations. Hundreds of PCS members employed by the energy regulator in Glasgow, London and Cardiff are being balloted for strike action. The ballot opened today (1) and closes at noon on 12 June. PCS has taken the decision to ballot its members at Ofgem following a series of provocative moves by the energy regulator over a number of issues read more
Strong support for MHCLG strike (23 Apr) – There has been a great turnout by striking PCS members in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Members working in the Newcastle office, which is under imminent threat of closure, have led the strike with 9 days of industrial action which started yesterday and ends on 2 May. Members at other offices threatened with closure — in Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Truro, and Warrington — also began a 4-day strike yesterday. There has been strong support on picket lines in Newcastle and Sheffield by reps and members in the department and by colleagues across PCS, in particular from members in the Home Office, Department for Education and NHS England read more
ONS members vote to escalate industrial action (2 Apr) – PCS members in the Office for National Statistics have voted for strike action in their dispute over a forced return to workplaces. In a ballot that closed on Monday (31 March), 68% of Office for National Statistics (ONS) members taking part voted to take strike action while 91% voted to take action short of a strike (ASOS), on a 71% turnout. Since May 2024, over 1100 PCS members working for the ONS in various locations (Newport in South Wales, Titchfield in Hampshire, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh) have been taking action short of a strike by refusing to comply with the new attendance policy. They have refused to follow an instruction to spend at least 40% of their time in the office and are refusing to work overtime, out of hours and out of grade. This action had no tangible impact on the ONS’s outputs, proving PCS’s argument that there was nothing to be gained by the attendance policy change. To increase the pressure on the employer, members had been working-to-rule since 27 August 2024. By extending the strike mandate by a further six months, this ballot result will allow PCS to further ramp up the pressure on ONS management over their insistence that staff spend at least 40% of the time in a designated workplace read more
End of first week of strike action for Met Police Intel staff (21 Mar) – PCS members working for the Met Police in Met Intel have been taking strike action in their dispute over a forced return to offices. PCS members working for the Met Police are campaigning against the pulling of an agreed blended working framework and its replacement with an imposed policy which mandates at least 60% a week in an office workplace read more
Met Police strikers ramp up pressure on employer (20 Mar) – Met Police PCS members who are out on strike for 2 weeks are ramping up pressure on their employer to negotiate over imposed mandated office attendance read more
Donations have started to pour into PCS’s fighting fund, from non-striking PCS members who want to support the fight against 60% mandated office attendance, an issue affecting many across PCS. You can make a donation online. Please use our quick form to email the London mayor to ask him to intervene and work with the Home Secretary to find a resolution for our members read more
Border Force Maritime staff vote to strike (13 Mar) – Over 120 PCS members working on patrol boats in the English Channel have voted for strike action after allowances have been frozen for years. In a ballot of the members, which closed today (13) almost 99% voted for strike action on a 64% turnout. Members in Border Force Maritime who include the Cutters fleet that patrols UK waters 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, will now consider strike action read more
Fujitsu members to take more strike action (12 Mar) – The members will walk out for 22 days in March and April in their dispute over pay. The PCS members employed by Fujitsu Services UK on HMRC contracts will walk out for 22 days from March 21 to April 23. The dispute comes after their employer imposed a 1.5% pay offer while their civil service colleagues received 5% for doing similar jobs. The members took two days’ strike action in January to coincide with the tax deadline for self-employed people; the new round of action is expected to affect time-sensitive work, putting Fujitsu at risk of financial penalties for missing targets. Members are angry that Fujitsu reports large profits from the HMRC account while offering them below-inflation pay rises read more
Support striking CAA members (10 Mar) – PCS members working for the Civil Aviation Authority escalate their pay dispute by taking a further two days of strike action from tomorrow (11). Our members based at Gatwick Airport and Canary Wharf escalated their dispute over pay with well-supported joint strike action last month with Prospect members. Our members also walked out in January. They are angry that while some of them received a pay offer of just 3%, chief executive Rob Bishton last year was given a 32% pay rise read more
G4S security officers vote for more strike action (3 Mar) – The members who work in Jobcentres have already taken over six months of strike action in their long-running dispute. In a ballot that closed on Friday (28 February), PCS members working as security guards for G4S on the DWP contract have sent their employer the strongest possible message by voting 97.2% in favour of taking more strike action in their dispute read more
PHSO members start week of targeted strike action (24 Feb) – The week’s action follows a one day strike by all PCS members at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman earlier this month. 40 members who carry out a range of casework and administrative roles relating to complaints and investigations about the NHS and other UK government bodies are taking five days of strike action this week. The dispute at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is over pay, a compulsory return to the office and proposals that could see extra responsibilities delegated to more junior staff without any extra pay. On 12 February over 200 PCS members at the PHSO held a one day strike. This week’s targeted strike action is being taken by members who work in sections which have a high turnover of work that others rely on. It is anticipated that backlogs of work will build up quickly. The strike involves members who are mainly based at Citygate in Manchester and the branch will hold picket lines outside the offices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8-10.30am. Please go along to Citygate, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HQ to show your support read more
Land Registry Action Short of a Strike begins (22 Jan) – Nearly 4000 PCS members in England and Wales have begun an indefinite work to rule. PCS members in Land Registry began their action short of a strike (ASOS) yesterday (21) in pursuit of the objectives voted for in their industrial action mandate read more
Prospect
Prospect members at the CAA to take strike action (28 Jan) – Prospect members working at the Civil Aviation authority (CAA) will take strike action in a dispute over pay. Aircraft maintenance mechanic with a flash light inspects plane engine in a hangar. This will be the first time Prospect members have taken strike action there in 40 years. Strike action at CAA HQ in Crawley will be for 24 hours on 6 February.
Industrial action short of a strike, which has been ongoing since 20 January consisting of working to rule and an overtime ban, will pause for the duration of the strike, resuming on 7 February. Ongoing action short of a strike could cause delays across the industry to things like fleet refits, the introduction of new models, licensing of new hanger facilities. The CAA imposed a 3-4% pay offer on staff after going through the motions of negotiating – an offer which neither kept pace with the industry nor civil service (The CAA is a Non-Departmental Public Body) read more. NEXT strike action will be on this Tuesday and Wednesday 11-12 March
GMB
Amazon faces legal challenge after workers’ rights vote (5 May) – Amazon faces a legal challenge over workers’ rights in the lead up to a vote which took place at the company’s Coventry warehouse. In total, 49.5 per cent of the 2,600 workers who voted backed union recognition at the Midlands facility in July last year, falling short by just 28 votes. The result followed weeks of union-busting tactics at the Coventry site, where bosses bombarded workers with anti-union messages by company bosses, including multiple anti-union seminars. Amazon now faces an outstanding legal challenge – known as an Inducement Claim – which begins at London Central Employment Tribunal tomorrow [6 May 2025] read more
Moorcroft potteries firm closes after 100 years (30 Apr) – Pottery giant Moorcroft has closed after more than 100 years trading, at the cost of 57 jobs. The firm, based in Burlsem, Stoke-On-Trent, announced it was closing with ‘immediate effect’ citing rising energy cost and cheap import read more
Dozens protests Basingstoke cab office after union rep stood down (9 Apr) – The rep was discriminated against for carrying out trade union duties. More than 50 drivers at Basingstoke’s Alpha Cars protested outside the firm’s office on Monday. The drivers, who are members of GMB Union are angry that their colleague whom they have elected to be their union rep has been stood down by the company. Since the drivers are self-employed, the driver could not be sacked but has been told he will not be used by the company going forward read more
Strike action begins at Tower Hamlets primary school over staff cuts (1 Apr) – School support staff at St Luke’s Primary School in Tower Hamlets are today [Tuesday 1 April] starting strike action over reduced staffing levels. A further walk out will take place on Thursday this week. The strike ballot saw 100 per cent of participating members vote in favour. A restructure at the school will cut the number of teaching assistants from 28 to 21 – a reduction of 25 per cent – while the overall workload is unchanged. The school – which has a large proportion of pupils with special educational needs – has failed to demonstrate how these staffing levels will work in practice. To date, the school has not shared a risk assessment outlining the impact of these cuts on the safety of the staff or children read more
Banks hotels and pubs face money shortage as cash workers strike (24 Mar) – Banks, hotels, ATMs and pubs face a cash shortage as more than 1,000 G4S workers vote to strike over a real terms pay cut. GMB members deliver money to companies such as NatWest, Lloyds Santander, Tesco, Asda, Wetherspoons, McDonalds and Travelodge. Workers have voted to strike with a majority of 91 per cent, on a 59 per cent turnout. They after being offered a deal as low as 1.4 per cent in some cases, while G4S’s directed competitor Loomis offered workers 4.6 per cent earlier this year. Industrial action could take place as early as the Easter bank holiday, with business and ATMs potentially left without cash, while airports may run out of foreign currency read more
River Thames weir and lock keepers set for strike vote (17 Mar) – River Thames weir and lockkeepers are set to ballot for industrial action over safety concerns, GMB has warned the Government. In a letter to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the union says workers are ready to act following ‘budget-driven decisions’ that are ‘putting people and property at risk’. There are only 52 permanent staff on the river, plus 10 temporary posts which expire at the end of this year and have yet to be filled. According to a 2008 EA assessment, more than 100 staff were needed during peak season. Climate change has seen an increase in severe weather and flooding, with workers managing multiple weirs while being denied the required 24-hour or 48-hour rest periods between shifts – posing a safety risk to both the public and staff. GMB members have now told the union they are ready to act read more
Whisky workers vote on strike action after talks bail (5 Mar) – Whisky workers at Inver House distillery will vote on strike action after refusing a 3 per cent pay rise. The Lanarkshire-based company, with distilleries across the Highlands, refused to re-open talks and engage with conciliation service Acas as workers seek a 4 per cent deal. A consultative ballot showed 94 per cent support for a vote on industrial action if talks broke down. The three-week ballot of GMB members on possible industrial action closes on 24 March. Inver House has five distilleries across the Highlands and produces whiskies including Balblair, Balmemach, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney and Speyburn. The company is a subsidiary of ThaiBev, one of the biggest drinks companies in Southeast Asia which recorded profits of £600m last year read more
South London parking wardens stop issuing tickets (3 Mar) – Forced by ‘penny-pinching’ employer, wardens across four boroughs will stop issuing tickets from today. More than 200 parking wardens and environmental officers across four London Boroughs are due to stop issuing tickets as a form of industrial action from today [Monday 3rd March]. This is the continuation of a dispute which has seen GMB members take 14 days of strike action since November. The action is being taken by wardens in Wandsworth, Richmond, Lambeth and Kingston, and will continue indefinitely or until APCOA agree to settle the dispute read more
Britain faces potential Nandos shortage union warns (20 Feb) – Workers supplying the UK’s favourite Peri-Peri chicken are preparing to strike, says GMB. GMB Union has today warned of the potential for Nandos shortages on highstreets and delivery apps across the country. The warning comes as workers at the restaurant chain’s main poultry provider, Avara Foods, are considering strike action. Over 500 Avara workers could join the strike action after bosses threatened de-recognition of their trade union. Avara is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of poultry products to supermarkets and restaurants, including Nandos read more
Unison
Donate to support striking workers – As UNISON members continue to take strike action, the union is asking for donations to its strike fund
Stop the Council Cuts – Sign the petition: Save our Services – Nottingham City Unison
Reform councillors have much to learn about local government and its hard-working staff (3 May) – Budgets have been slashed to the bone and there’s little left to cut read more
The recent Supreme Court judgment (2 May) – UNISON is proud of its work to promote trans-inclusive workplaces, and of its track record in campaigning for changes to equalities laws read more
Opinion: The battle to value nursing (2 May) – Ahead of International Nursing Day on 12 May, UNISON national officer for nursing Stuart Tuckwood explains how NHS nurses are not being fairly valued for their work read more
The inspiring St Luke’s school strikers E14 are back on the picket line this Thurs 1 May. UNISON Teaching Assistants and NEU Teachers are striking together to demand a safe school. Rally at 8.40am & are doing a call out to activists to join us read more on Tower Hamlets Unison website
Pay Fair for Patient Care: Nottingham University Hospitals – Hundreds of healthcare support workers at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) will take strike action over pay. Staff at Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital are set to walk out on Thursday 10 and Friday 11, with further strikes planned for 17, 22 and 28 April. In a recent ballot, 94% of those who voted backed strike action read more.
*To donate to the strike fund: pay online to Unison NUHT 20122 Branch, acc no. 20370066, sort code 60-83-01 or pay be cheque to Unison NUHT 20122 Branch and post to Unison East Midlands – Unit E, Nottingham One. 154 Canal Street. Nottingham. NG1 7HG
Donate to show solidarity with members at Livv Housing (24 Mar) – UNISON members have been taking action over pay since last October. Christina McAnea joined Livv Housing members on the picket line earlier this year. UNISON is launching a national appeal to support members at Livv Housing on Merseyside, who are taking strike action in a long-running dispute that stems from years of below-inflation pay increases read more
For strike dates, read more on Knowsley Unison website and Facebook page. Please donate to strike funds by emailing [email protected] for details
Staff at Gloucester and Cheltenham hospitals strike over pay – “Phlebotomists are vital to the health service and deserve much better than the treatment they’ve received.” Read more.
Please show phlebotomists your support and solidarity by donating to their strike hardship fund:
Make a donation via SumUp
UNISON Gloucestershire DHC Branch 21311
Sort code: 60-83-01
Account number: 20301750
Reference: strikefund
Picketing and plan of action for this week:
- Monday 5th: Bank Holiday, no picket
- Tuesday 6th: normal picket at Cheltenham General Hospital from 07.30 to 12.00
- Wednesday 7th: picket at Gloucester Royal Hospital from 07.30 to 12.00
- Thursday 8th: meeting beforehand at 08:30 for a public for a demonstration outside Cheltenham General as their board of directors are meeting at 09:00,
- Friday 9th: visit to the bin workers on strike in Birmingham, TBC
Support Manchester Mental Health strikes by Unison and Unite members read more on Mancunian Matters website
NIPSA
Central Whitley Updates (2 May) – Please see below updates on some of the main issues that Central Trade Union Side have been dealing with read more
Police Staff Secure Mechanism Review Revised Environmental Allowance (1 May) – NIPSA, representing over 1800 Police Staff, welcomes the confirmation of the introduction of a review mechanism for the Police Staff REA payments. NIPSA members employed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland undertook a statutory ballot to commence Industrial Action earlier in the summer of 2024, this action was suspended following the threat of strike action, to allow for negotiations to conclude on a new allowance which would be effective from 1st April 2025, as part of these arrangements an interim payment was made to staff read more
Industrial Action by Teaching Staff (12 Feb) – You will be aware that the teaching staff have entered into a period of industrial action by taking action short of strike action in relation to teacher’s pay. NIPSA members are encouraged to support this action and should only undertake work in accordance with their normal duties and job descriptions. Support can be shown by not undertaking any additional responsibilities that may arise directly from the action short of strike action. Please extend solidarity to our teaching colleagues fighting for fair pay read more
Royal College of Nursing
RCN and BMA in Wales unite to launch petition to end corridor care (29 Apr) – The Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association in Wales raise the alarm on patient safety in Welsh hospitals and health care services read more
Consultation on NHS Scotland pay offer open (23 Apr) – Our member consultation on the NHS pay offer for 2025-26 and 2026-27 is now open read more
Confirm NHS pay rises now, RCN tells government (15 Apr) – The Pay Review Body’s report was delivered to the UK government late last week, but details on the 2025/26 NHS pay awards still haven’t been confirmed 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
‘Shocking budget cuts will compromise the delivery of safe maternity care in every way,’ says RCM (29 Apr) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has described the Government and NHS England’s decision to slash crucial ringfenced maternity service funding as ‘utterly shocking’. The devastating decision revealed by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) on the eve of the RCM’s national conference, will see national Service Development Funding (SDF) for maternity services drop from £95m in 2024-25 to just £2m in 2025-26 read more
RCM urges members in Scotland to have their say on pay offer (16 Apr) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on all its members working in the NHS in Scotland to have their say on the pay offer announced last week. The call comes as the RCM today opens a three-week consultation with all Agenda for Change (AfC) midwives and maternity care assistants (MCAs) and maternity support workers (MSWs). The offer the RCM is asking its members to ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ is a two- year pay offer which equates to an uplift of 4.25% for all NHS in 2025-26 and 3.75% for 2026- 27. This is a cumulative uplift of 8.16%. Crucially the RCM have ensured the offer is protected from any rises in inflation by securing a commitment that each year of the pay deal will be one percentage point higher than the average CPI inflation rate of that year read more
CSP
CSP responds to leaked pay body recommendation (28 Apr) – The Pay Review Body (PRB) for the NHS in England is planning to recommend that NHS workers be given pay rises ‘close to 3 per cent’ for 2025/26, according to a report in The Times newspaper read more
Voting opens on NHS pay offer in Scotland (23 Apr) – CSP members employed by NHS Scotland are being urged to vote on a new two-year pay offer in a consultation that opens today read more
Two-year pay offer for NHS Scotland staff (8 Apr) – CSP members working in the NHS in Scotland are to vote on a two-year pay offer negotiated by health unions with the Scottish government read more
BMA
Resident doctors in England announce ballot for industrial action (2 May) – Resident doctors in England have announced dates for their ballot for renewed industrial action over pay. With three weeks having passed since they warned the Government of the consequences of the absence of a reasonable, timely pay offer, the BMA’s resident doctors committee (RDC) has chosen to ballot its members for strike action. The ballot will open on 27 May and close on 7 July 2025 read more
NEU
Initial strike date at Roedean School suspended following negotiations (29 Apr) – Following negotiations with the employer members (both teachers and support staff) of the National Education Union (NEU) at Roedean School, Brighton, have agreed to suspend strike action this week in a dispute over redundancies, cuts to pay and teachers’ pensions. The suspension was announced after the school management agreed to put a new union offer to the School’s Council (governing body). Strike dates remain in place as follows: 6, 7, 13, 14, 15 May. Pickets will take place between 7am-9am on these dates
United Learning ballot (26 Feb) – The National Education Union has begun a formal strike ballot of around 400 teacher members working at 14 of United Learning’s independent schools in a dispute over pay. The employer’s pay offer is between 2-3%, depending on the workplace. This is insulting. If it were to be adopted, this would see teachers’ pay rates in many of the trust’s independent schools fall even further below the levels set by the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document for state schools with a number of schools falling below this level for the first time. The union is calling on United Learning to address longstanding pay erosion in the 14 schools with an 8% pay offer. We are seeking a commitment of parity with pay scales in the state sector. This is the first time there has been a national ballot at the trust, one of the largest operators of independent schools in the UK. The ballot opens today (26 February) and closes on 26 March, with action anticipated for week commencing 28 April read more
Please support the following strikes:-
NASUWT
Far-right movements fuelling violence in schools (2 May) – Some schools have become a “battleground of blame and violence” due to the influence of far right and populist movements on children and young people, the incoming President of NASUWT Scotland – The Teachers’ Union will argue today (Friday) read more
Northern Ireland FE college members vote for industrial action (16 Apr) – The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland, has welcomed the result of a ballot of its members in Further Education (FE) colleges, which showed strong support for industrial action in response to ongoing disputes over pay, workload, and conditions. In the ballot, 74.3% of members voted in favour of strike action, while an overwhelming 98.6 % supported action short of strike, demonstrating deep frustration over the failure to address long-standing concerns read more
Kent teachers strike over attempts to downgrade pensions (27 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Farringtons School in Chislehurst, Kent, are today taking strike action over changes to their pensions which will make them significantly worse off in their retirement. The fee paying school is seeking to force teachers to accept detrimental changes to their pension contributions. Those wishing to remain in Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) will see cuts to their pay or will have to join an inferior pension scheme. The employer has refused to recognise the NASUWT in discussions over the proposals and members have been left with no other option than to take strike action to seek to protect their incomes and their pensions. Further days of strike action are set to be taken on Tuesday 4 March, Wednesday 5 March, Tuesday 11 March, Wednesday 12 March and Thursday 13 March read more
Stockport teachers strike over violence and abuse from pupils (26 Feb) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Werneth School in Stockport will take the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Thursday) over working practices which have led to teachers being unacceptably exposed to poor student behaviour including verbal and physical assaults. Changes to working practices at the start of the autumn term have led to an increase in disruptive and violent behaviour from pupils. Four days of strike action originally due to take place last December were withdrawn to give the employer an opportunity to resolve the dispute. However, despite some changes, members do not feel substantive improvements have been made and have been left with no choice but to reinstate strike action read more
Strike action at Reading school over pensions fire and rehire threat (24 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Leighton Park School in Reading are taking the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over attempts by the employer to make teachers choose between their pension and their pay. Teachers have been told they must make a choice between moving to an inferior pension scheme or remaining in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) but accepting a 7% pay cut. Furthermore, teachers have been threatened with being fired and reemployed on new contracts if they do not voluntarily accept these changes read more
Real-term pay cut prompts strike action at Liverpool schools (21 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Merchant Taylors’ Schools in Liverpool (Merchant Taylors’ Senior Boys and Girls and Stanfield Preparatory School) will be taking the first of five planned days of strike action on Wednesday over teachers’ pay. Members have been given only a 1.14% pay award for the current academic year, in comparison to the 5.5% rise awarded to teachers in the state sector read more
Teachers at Liverpool school take strike action over adverse management practices (3 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Gateacre School in Liverpool will be taking the first of five planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over concerns about the way in which they are being managed and a failure to recognise workforce trade unions. Members have been subject to a long-standing culture of adverse management practices and treatment which has undermined their wellbeing, health and safety in the workplace. This includes excessive workloads and working hours, the failure to address poor pupil behaviour and excessive monitoring and surveillance of staff. The employer has also failed to agree to any collective bargaining arrangements with education workforce trade unions. Northern Schools Trust, which officially took over the running of the school in December, derecognised workforce trade unions several years ago read more
EIS
Lecturing Staff at RGU Continue Strike Action on May Day to Defend Jobs (1 May) – Lecturing staff at Robert Gordon University (RGU) have entered their second day of strike action, in protest against proposed job cuts and compulsory redundancies. Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association (EIS-ULA) will again take to picket lines across the university’s campus, demonstrating their strength and solidarity with colleagues in the face of job cuts. The strike action taking place on the first of May, widely recognised as International Workers Day, is in response to the university’s cost-cutting measures and highlights the deep-seated concerns of the academic staff read more
INTO
Teachers’ Pay And Allowances From 1 September 2024 (14 Apr) – Details of new pay scales and allowance following new pay agreement from September 2024 read more
Member Update: Friday 4th April – Dear Members, After the NITC rejected the management side pay award on the 28th of March, The Minister of Education invited the leads from NITC to a series of meetings during which further revisions and amendments to the offer have been negotiated. The Minister is aware of the volume of workload issues affecting teachers and wants to find a constructive approach to addressing them. He has offered in addition an Independent Review of Workload to be concluded by November 2025. This has the full authority of the Minister and his office. The INTO feels that this addition of an independent review covering all aspects of workload would be the best vehicle to address areas of concern. The review body will consist of a three-person independent panel including a nominated member from NITC and a member nominated by Management Side. This panel will not only review all aspects of workload but will also monitor the implementation of the Heads of Agreement commitments previously outlined in the Management Side Offer. The Northern Committee and the Central Executive Committee of INTO have considered all options in relation to the revised offer from the Minister and the jeopardy around the rejection of the 5.5% pay offer backdated to September 2024 and have decided to accept the revised offer on behalf of the membership as set out in Rule 121, part e, within the INTO Rules and Constitution (2024). Acceptance of the offer will result in an end to Action Short of Strike. We anticipate that this will be in effect as of 00:01 on Monday 7th April read more
UCU
UCU Stop the Cuts national, cross-sector demonstration in Central London Saturday 10 May
Meeting point: 13:00 at Bessborough Gardens, London SW1V 2JE
March: 13:15-13:45 from Bessborough Gardens to Old Palace Yard
Speeches and rally cries: 14:00-16:00 at Old Palace Yard, London SW1P 3JY
Sign petition against the education cuts
Statement from UCU general secretary following the news that the Cardiff University strike has been called off – Following the news that the Cardiff University strike has been called off after agreement has been reached for no compulsory job losses to take place this year, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘This is a significant victory for our members at Cardiff University. Their collective action and unwavering commitment have led to a crucial assurance that protects jobs and upholds the integrity of academic provision…” read more
University of East Anglia staff begin strike action today over threat of compulsory redundancies and lack of financial transparency (1 May) – Staff at the University of East Anglia (UEA) will begin nine days of strike action today (Thursday 1 May) in a dispute over compulsory redundancies, financial accountability, and transparent governance. Pickets will be in place from 8:00-11:00 read more
UCU statement on National Audit Office report (30 Apr) – In response to the National Audit Office (NOA) report, UCU says: ‘The latest report from the National Audit Office lays bare the crisis gripping further education (FE) in England. UCU’s New Deal for FE campaign has demonstrated the reasons why the sector is on a cliff edge, and today’s findings are yet another wake-up call. Without urgent and sustained investment and a proper workforce strategy, the government risks failing thousands of students and burning out the educators who support them read more
UCU comment on University of Dundee alternative recovery plan (29 Apr) – Commenting on the announcement of an alternative recovery plan for the University of Dundee, Dundee UCU branch co-president Melissa D’Ascenzio said: ‘It is a relief that University management has backed away from the brutal plans to cut up to 700 jobs. This backtracking is in no doubt down to the relentless pressure from UCU, from all the campus unions and the support they’ve received from the city of Dundee, local communities and from across the political spectrum. Given the news of this new plan, we’re urging the employer to take compulsory redundancies off the table, so as we can work with the employer towards a sustainable, successful university that values its staff and students, and continues to deliver the world class teaching and research read more
Edinburgh University workers have renewed their call on the employer to rule out compulsory redundancies as 350 staff take voluntary severance (25 Apr) – Workers at the University of Edinburgh have renewed their call on the employer to rule out compulsory redundancies, given that the principal, Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, yesterday reported that around 350 staff are opting to take voluntary severance. The University and College Union (UCU) at Edinburgh University, said that given significant savings are being made through the voluntary severance scheme, the employer should now guarantee it will not make any forced job cuts. UCU is currently in dispute with Edinburgh University over the employer failure to rule out compulsory redundancies, and is balloting its members in a statutory industrial action ballot to ask members if they are willing to take part in strike action and action short of strike. The ballot follows the principal announcing to staff in an email on 25 February that he was looking to make cuts of £140million, a move which the union said would see the biggest ever cuts made in Scottish higher education history. UCU is clear that there is no need for cuts of this magnitude read more
UCU declares academic boycott of Brunel University over mass redundancies (15 Apr) – The University and College Union (UCU) has declared an academic boycott of Brunel University London in response to the institution’s continued pursuit of mass redundancies. Brunel University has already overseen significant numbers of voluntary redundancies and is now pressing ahead with plans to impose further compulsory job cuts. UCU believes that the future of entire academic departments are under threat. The union has condemned the university’s refusal to engage meaningfully with staff representatives and warned that these actions could cause irreparable damage to Brunel’s reputation. The union’s higher education committee (HEC) has unanimously backed the boycott, also known as ‘greylisting’, which is the most serious sanction the union can impose. The boycott will begin on Tuesday 15 April 2025, unless the university withdraws the threat of compulsory redundancies, provides transparent financial information, enters collective conciliation talks through Acas, and reinstates those already involuntarily dismissed read more
Brunel University staff begin strike action over job cuts (27 Feb)
Keele University staff vote to strike over brutal cuts programme (11 Apr) – Staff at Keele University have overwhelmingly backed strike action in a fight to protect jobs and student provision, announced the University and College Union (UCU). An overwhelming 75% of UCU members who voted said yes to strike action in a ballot with a turnout of 55%. While 89% also backed taking action short of strike, which could include working to rule. Strike action is now set to take place on Monday 28 April, Tuesday 29 April, Thursday 1 May, Tuesday 6 May and Thursday 8 May read more
Overwhelming vote of no confidence in Truro & Penwith College principal over job cuts (4 Apr) – Staff have called on the Truro and Penwith College management to stop the threat of compulsory job cuts after delivering an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the principal and senior management team, announced the University and College Union (UCU) on Thursday 3 April. In a ballot organised by UCU and its sister campus unions, over nine in ten UCU members (95.6%) said they have no confidence in Truro and Penwith’s principal Martin Tucker and the senior management team to manage the finances of the college. In addition to the vote of no confidence around three quarters (73.6%) of UCU members said they would be prepared to take strike action in order to prevent compulsory redundancies. Under Tucker’s watch, the college has seen an alarming slide of surpluses, resulting in an eyewatering deficit budget of £4.2 million in 2024/2025, just short of 10% of annual turnover, despite higher student numbers read more
Durham University UCU members overwhelmingly back industrial action in the fight against huge job cuts (2 Apr) – UCU members have voted in favour of strike action with a majority of 72%, whilst 81% have backed action short of a strike up to and including an assessment boycott, in a ballot that saw 64% of Durham UCU members vote. The ballot result means that staff could now down tools unless management agrees to rule out compulsory redundancies. Members of UCU will now meet to decide and vote upon next steps including the options of strike action and action short of a strike and is calling on Durham University leaders to listen to its workforce, and work with the union to avoid compulsory redundancies and prevent industrial unrest on campus read more
Northern Ireland college staff vote to take industrial action over pay ‘betrayal’ (1 Apr) – Staff at all six further education colleges across Northern Ireland have voted to take industrial action for fair pay, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced. Belfast Metropolitan College, Northern Regional College, North West Regional College, Southern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College and South West College educate more than 63,000 students between them. The ballot was open for three weeks and was conducted via Royal Mail with 90% voting in favour of strike action, and 98.5% voting in favour of action short of a strike (ASOS), with a 49% turnout read more
Sheffield University staff back strike action in dispute over 1,000 jobs at risk (1 Apr) – Staff at the University of Sheffield have voted to take strike action in a dispute over drastic restructuring plans that put up to 1,000 jobs at risk, the University and College Union (UCU) announced today (Tuesday 1 April). The dispute centres on the university’s intention to slash staffing costs by £23 million over the next two years. In November 2024, the Vice Chancellor announced plans to cut £9 million in staffing costs in 2025 and a further £14 million in 2026. Relatedly, the university recently launched its ‘New Schools’ proposal, which has involved reducing the number of academic departments from 45 to 21 and restructuring Professional Services staff across all schools read more
Canterbury Christ Church University staff and students deliver vote of no confidence in vice chancellor, senior management and governors (1 Apr) – Staff and students at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) have overwhelmingly delivered a vote of no confidence in the university’s vice chancellor, senior management team (SMT), and board of governors. The vote, organised by the CCCU branch of the University and College Union (UCU), was passed by 359 (96%) votes to 16 (4%) following growing anger over the institution’s handling of current financial and strategic decisions. The result comes amid an ongoing dispute between CCCU UCU and university management regarding the failure to rule out compulsory redundancies (CRs) in both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years read more
University and College Union (UCU) Scotland comment on job cuts at Dundee University (1 Apr) – Commenting on the news today (1 April 2025) that planned job cuts at the University of Dundee could exceed 700 workers, Mary Senior, Scotland official UCU, said: ‘Sacking over 700 staff at Dundee University is tantamount to academic and economic vandalism. This level of job cuts would be catastrophic for the city of Dundee and the surrounding area. We cannot let this destruction go ahead, the funding already announced by the Scottish government and Funding Council is a start to prevent these cuts. We need to do better, to support students, education and jobs in the city’. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Cuts on this scale being planned by university senior management will have a devastating impact not just on the university’s future, but also on the city and the local economy read more
Strike ballot looms at Kendal College over low pay (26 Mar) – The UCU has today launched a formal trade dispute with Kendal College over its failure to table any pay offer whatsoever this year. This is despite college employer body, the Association of Colleges, making its formal pay recommendation for the 2024/25 academic year six months ago in October 2024. The dispute was declared after an overwhelming 98% of UCU members who voted supported the move, in a ballot that saw over 50% turnout. It paves the way for a strike ballot if management refuses to resolve the dispute read more
Cardiff University staff overwhelmingly vote for strike action (25 Mar) – Cardiff University staff have overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a fight against huge job cuts. A massive 83% backed strike action, while 86% backed action short of a strike up to and including an assessment boycott, in a ballot that saw over 64% of Cardiff UCU members vote. The ballot result means that staff could now down tools unless management agrees to rule out compulsory redundancies. Staff will meet later this week to decide and vote upon next steps including the options of strike action and action short of a strike, which could disrupt student graduations this summer. Management claims it needs to make deep cuts to balance the books, but UCU’s independent analysis of Cardiff University’s finances shows they could draw on £188m in available cash to protect jobs and student provision. Since the cuts were announced, Cardiff University leaders have come under sustained pressure to reverse them read more
University of Kent staff to strike this week over increasing workload and threats to jobs (24 Mar) – Staff at the University of Kent are striking every day this week over management failure to rule out compulsory job cuts, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. Staff at the University of Kent are striking every day this week over management failure to rule out compulsory job cuts, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today (Monday 24 March) read more
Sheffield Hallam staff to strike on Monday & Tuesday over withheld pay (21 Mar) – Staff at Sheffield Hallam University will strike on Monday and Tuesday over management’s decision to withhold part of staff pay for seven months. Staff will be on picket lines outside the Owen building both strike days from 8:30am-11.30am. The dispute is over Hallam management’s refusal to implement the 2024/25 pay award of 2.7% from Thursday 1 August 2024, equivalent to around £100 per month for the average lecturer once pension costs are factored in. The university initially claimed it could not afford to implement the award, but belatedly did so this month, after UCU won its strike ballot. However, management still refuses to pay staff their seven months of lost earnings from August (2024), when the uplift should have come in read more
UEA staff to strike over job cuts (20 Mar) – Staff at the University of East Anglia (UEA) will strike on Wednesday 26 March in a fight against job cuts that saw almost one in six staff put at risk of redundancy, announced the UCU. The strike comes after an overwhelming 82% of UEA UCU members who voted backed strike action in an industrial ballot with a turnout of 67%. Staff will also be taking action short of strike from Wednesday 26 March, which will include working to rule. The dispute is over management’s threat to cut over 190 staff to meet continued budget shortfalls at the institution read more
University of Bradford staff back strike action over 300 job cull (17 Mar) – University of Bradford staff have overwhelmingly backed strike action in a consultative ballot over plans to axe at least 300 jobs in a programme of cuts that will see chemistry and film & television courses shut down. An overwhelming 69% of staff who voted in the consultative ballot backed strike action, with the turnout surpassing the 50% anti-trade union threshold. If the result is repeated in a statutory ballot then the university faces the possibility of strikes on campus. The dispute is over the huge cuts programme university management is attempting to force through read more
University crisis will see over 10,000 staff lose their jobs, fears UCU (4 Mar) – UK higher education faces an unprecedented crisis, the University and College Union (UCU) declared today, with new data compiled by the union showing over 5,000 jobs at risk. The announcement comes as UCU launches ‘Stop the Cuts, Fund Higher Education Now’, a campaign calling for urgent action from the Labour government. So far, this academic year, university employers have announced their intention to cut over 5,000 jobs (5,361), while at least five other universities have asked staff to quit but refused to specify how much they want to cut from their staffing budget. Alongside this the sector has announced over £238m of cuts and declared deficits of at least £30m. Were university bosses to plug these holes solely through axing staff, UCU fears around 5,000 more jobs could go (4,739) read more
Up to 14 days of strike action to hit Newcastle University in March (14 Feb) – Newcastle University staff will strike for 14 days next month unless management protects jobs. The full strike dates are:-
- Week 1: Tuesday 4 and Thursday 6 March
- Week 2: Monday 10, Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 March
- Week 3: Monday 17, Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 March
- Week 4: Monday 24, Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26, Thursday 27 and Friday 28 March
Staff will be on picket lines outside university buildings each day of strike action read more
10 days of strike action begins tomorrow at University of Sheffield International College (11 Feb) – Staff at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) will down tools tomorrow in the first of up to ten days of strike action in a fight to protect jobs. Staff will be on picket lines every day of strike action from 8am-12pm outside the campus building on Solley Street. The full strike days are:-
- Week 1: Wednesday 12 and Friday 14 February
- Week 2: Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 February
- Week 3: Monday 24, Wednesday 26 and Friday 28 February
- Week 4: Tuesday 4 March and Thursday 6 March
- Week 5: Monday 10 March
The strike comes after USIC put 36 staff in the student support and academic teaching teams at risk of redundancy by April 2025. The employer has claimed the cuts are necessary due to a fall in student numbers this academic year, which it says has hit the company’s finances, but it has also described the financial situation as a “short-term gap” in communications to staff read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
Union leader warns Reform’s cuts and anti-net zero agenda poses risk to fire service (2 May) – Firefighters’ union leader Steve Wright has warned that Reform’s electoral advances pose a risk to public safety, especially in areas where wildfires are an increasingly common occurrence. The total area burnt by wildfires this year is already bigger than any year in over a decade. Wright said that the FBU would resist cuts from figures like Andrea Jenkyns, who this morning became Reform’s first metro mayor in Greater Lincolnshire. Jenkyns has promised to launch a “Lincolnshire DOGE”, echoing Trump’s cuts agenda. She is also a member of the board of ‘Net Zero Watch’, which lobbies against action on climate change. As mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, Jenkyns is now the most powerful Reform politician, in charge of an annual budget worth tens of millions. The FBU general secretary warned that cuts planned by Reform in county councils and mayoral authorities could have devastating consequences read more
“Firefighters don’t trust Reform”: FBU takes fight to Reform in Runcorn by-election (30 Apr) – Firefighters don’t trust reform – neither should you. Firefighters have launched a campaign warning voters of the dangers of the Reform UK party ahead of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. Reform UK is seeking to increase its share of the vote in the constituency from the 18% it received in the 2024 general election, with Nigel Farage visiting the constituency three times in recent weeks read more
FBU recommends pay deal to members as union leader warns Labour it must reverse austerity (24 Apr) – The executive council of the Fire Brigades Union is recommending that members accept a pay offer of 3.2%, with additional commitments to discuss pay progression and other additional payments. However, Steve Wright, the union’s general secretary, has warned that “inflation-level pay rises will not be enough”, and that the government must invest to protect the public and fund bigger pay increases in the future. Unlike many other sectors, pay in the fire service is negotiated directly between the Fire Brigades Union and national fire service employers at the National Joint Council (NJC) read more
Firefighters back Birmingham bin workers and will not clear waste, says FBU (7 Apr) – The Fire Brigades Union has offered its support to striking bin workers in Birmingham. Councillor Roger Harmer, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Birmingham, last week argued that the army or fire service should be brought in to clear obstructions and waste. The FBU said it would advise members not to carry out any strike-breaking work and has described Cllr Harmer’s remarks as “clueless”. FBU general secretary Steve Wright also declared the union’s “full solidarity” with bin workers “in their fight to defend their pay, jobs and conditions” and called on the council to settle the dispute read more
POA
National Chair update April 2025 read here
Employment rights bill and prison officers right to strike (13 Mar) – POA Circular 14/2025 explained to members that John McDonnell MP had submitted amendments to the Bill that would reinstate the basic human right of Prison Officers ability to withdraw their labour. The Executive invited members, their families, friends and others in the Trade Union movement to contact their MPS to support the amendments. As a result of the campaign 1572 people contacted their MP by email, along with many others who contacted their MP by other means. Despite this, MPs were denied a vote on John’s proposal and the Bill has now gone through the Report Stage without John’s amendments included and we will continue to have our basic rights denied. John McDonnell did speak in the House of Commons on his amendments and a link to his speech can be found here. In addition, the following MPs added their name to the amendment: John McDonnell, Mary Kelly Foy, Richard Burgon, Mike Amesbury, Dr Simon Opher, Jon Trickett, Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Kim Johnson, Nadia Whittome, Steve Witherden, Kate Osborne, Imran Hussain, Jeremy Corbyn, Andy McDonald, Ian Byrne, and Zarah Sultana read more
NAPO
Unions lodge Pay Progression Dispute (1 May) – The Probation Unions position is that the trade unions and employer previously reached an agreement that, under the Competency Based Framework, on the 1st of April each year eligible staff would achieve incremental progression – i.e. moving up one pay point within their bay band. Also, that this process is completely separate to the outcome of any pay negotiations between the employer and trade unions, which can result in increases in the value of employee’s pay. Our view is that there exists a wealth of evidence, much of it previously issued by HMPPS to its staff, that they were – at least until recent months – of the same view read more
BFAWU
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
NUJ
Scotland’s first minister urges PA to reconsider planned redundancies (2 May) – John Swinney has written to PA Media after the company announced plans to cut 8% of its UK editorial staff last week. The job cuts place six journalists in Scotland at risk, including dedicated political reporters read more
Philippines: Filipino journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang shot dead (1 May) – Veteran publisher and champion of media freedom murdered at home. On the cusp of World Press Freedom Day it has emerged that veteran Filipino journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang has been murdered. The NUJ joins the International Federation of Journalists and the National Union of Journalists Philippines (NUJP) in strongly condemning his killing and urges the authorities to ensure an urgent, impartial and transparent investigation. Dayang, the long-term publisher of the Philippines Graphic Magazine, was shot dead at his home in Kalibo, in Aklan province, on April 29 read more
NUJ condemns detention of journalist Ali al-Samoudi (30 Apr) – The National Union of Journalists has strongly condemned the detention of Palestinian journalist Ali al-Samoudi by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) following a morning raid on his son’s home read more
Equity
Scottish unions join campaign to save River City and back Equity’s call for women’s safety (29 Apr) – Equity’s motion on women’s safety was carried at the STUC Congress read more
Welsh National Opera chorus vote to renew industrial action mandate (26 Mar) – Equity members of the WNO chorus have voted in favour of further industrial action. Equity members of the Welsh National Opera chorus have voted in favour of industrial action in a re-ballot on the ongoing dispute over proposed cuts to jobs, terms and conditions. The chorus will continue to take action short of strike from 9 April onwards. The mandate for action lasted for six months and as the dispute remains unresolved, a re-ballot took place, closing this week. WNO Equity members have voted 95% in favour of action short of strike and 91% in favour of strike action on a 100% turnout read more
USDAW
Usdaw urges the company to improve their pay offer to avoid planned strikes (28 Apr) – Usdaw members working at breakfast cereal giant Weetabix will be taking three days of industrial action in a dispute about pay from tomorrow (29 April). The strikes affect sites at Corby and Burton Latimer read more
Burton Latimer and Corby Weetabix strikers ‘determined’ as they begin two-day industrial action (29 Apr) read more on website of Northamptonshire Telegraph
UVW
Museum strikes paused again as pay offer promised by 1 April – Following talks between UVW and Wilson James earlier this week, the incredible guards at Natural History Museum, London Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum have agreed to suspend daily strikes due to commence on 7 March, following confirmation that a pay offer will be presented by 1 April. The guards are demanding a significant pay rise after years of poverty pay, full sick pay for day one, more annual leave and other benefits. Since last October, 76 days of strike action have been called including periods of daily walks outs.
Strike action will resume in April if the museums fail to deliver UVW Facebook page
Solidarity Financial Appeal: UVW’s office has been targeted in a break-in! (10 Jan) – Overnight, laptops, essential equipment and other valuables worth several thousands of pounds were stolen, disrupting critical support for low-paid, migrant and precarious workers. This won’t stop our fight for justice. The theft comes as UVW leads critical campaigns with hundreds of workers taking strike action across London. Please support UVW during this critical time. Help replace stolen equipment and ensure campaigns for dignity and equality continue. Every donation makes a difference. Donate now: https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/donate. Read more on UVW Facebook page
Mandate (Ireland)
Mandate says ESRI research shows living wage deferral will adversely affect nearly 1 in 5 workers coming into new jobs (30 Apr) – Retail and bar workers especially hard hit as well as young workers by postponement of sub-minimum wage rate abolition. Union calls on Government to reverse recent decisions on Living Wage and Sub-Minimum Wag read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU members vote for Section 39, 40, 56 and 10 pay proposals (1 May) – SIPTU members employed providing vital services including care for the disabled, elderly and youth supports in Section 39, 40, 56 and 10 organisations have voted overwhelmingly in favour of Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) pay proposals in a ballot counted today in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 SIPTU read more
BNM Recycling members defer strike after progress on working conditions protection (28 Mar) – SIPTU members employed by Bord na Móna Recycling, the country’s last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, have deferred strike action scheduled to begin on Wednesday (2nd April) following acceptance by management that their conditions of employment must be protected in any proposed sale of the company read more
Other news
From SHAC (Social Housing Action Campaign) – Call to Action!
Housing Crisis Workplace Impact Survey:-
To aid our engagement with trade unions, and to expose a well-hidden aspect of the housing crisis, we have a survey about the impact of the housing crisis in the workplace.
The survey is completely anonymous. It asks about the impact of rising rents, as well as stress, illness and injury triggered by bad housing which in turn leads to workplace absences. The survey closes on 31st March 2025.
Please help by filling in the survey if you are in work, and for all to circulate within your networks.
www.shaction.org/housing-in-the-workplace-survey/
Alan Hardman ‘Need not Greed’ – Alan Hardman’s razor-sharp political cartoons collected for the first time. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, Need Not Greed is a career-spanning collection of visual art by one of Britain’s greatest unsung political cartoonists. Alongside Alan Hardman’s essential work, the book also includes a contribution from former President of the National Union of Mineworkers, Arthur Scargill, as well as a foreword by Jeremy Corbyn order a copy – £45 each
Can you help? Crowdfunding to tour a production and exhibition of The Grunwick Strike Autumn 2025 – 2026 – We wanted to get in touch to let you know we are crowdfunding for a new production and interactive exhibition. The theatre show will tell the story of Jayaben Desai – the inspirational leader of the 1976-78 Grunwick Film Processing Factory Strike. We need your help to get this production and exhibition on the road, any donation you make will mean we are one step closer to getting this very important story out there performing to audiences across the UK. Any money raised will be matched by other funders. We’ve just got eight weeks to reach our target. Please find the link for our crowdfunding campaign HERE. Link to our Crowdfunding video Here. 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
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
Stop the attack on Gaza
Many NSSN supporters have joined marches and protests against the escalation of violence in the Middle East, particularly the invasion and bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli government.
See Stop the War website for info on protests. The next national demonstration in central London is on Saturday 17th May 12noon
A number of unions have issued statements on the situation in the Middle East, including: the TUC, FBU, RMT, NEU, Unite, Unison, PCS, ASLEF, TSSA, UCU, EIS, CWU, Equity, BMA, NUJ, MU, UVW, GMB, SOR, RCM, RCN, IWGB, Prospect, CSP, NAPO, INTO (Ireland), SIPTU (Ireland) and Mandate (Ireland)
Gaza protest on Saturday 18th January in Central London: oppose the arrests, defend the right to protest – the NSSN stands in solidarity with all those who have been arrested, including Stop The War Coalition’s Chris Nineham. It is outrageous that as a ceasefire is announced, protestors were denied the right to march, particularly under the watch of a Labour government and Labour London Mayor. We demand justice for all those arrested – with the immediate dropping of all charges Stop the War Coalition statement
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
‘SPYCOPS’ EXPOSED AND DEFEATED – Campaigners have successfully exposed the scandal of 50 years of secret undercover political policing. In fact activists are also celebrating 5 decades of struggles for a better world, despite police spying and repression
Affiliate to the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) here
ITV documentary – https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/itv-spycops-documentary-coming-soon-spring-2025/
www.campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com
https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/
https://tmg-uk.org/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/?locale=en_GB
https://powerbase.info/index.php/UndercoverResearch_Portal
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
Turkey’s People Rise Up for Democracy (25 Mar) – Mass protests are sweeping across Turkey as people take to the streets against the oppressive rule of President Erdoğan, which has made life unbearable for many read more on the website of SPOT – Solidarity with the People of Turkey
Online Rally: Thursday 3rd April
#SolidarityWithTurkey #StandWithTurkey #FreeThemAll
Please share widely and stand with us! ✊
NIGERIA SOLIDARITY – END THE ATTACKS ON DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS! END THE ‘TREASON’ TRIAL AND DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST ADARAMOYE MICHAEL LENIN AND OTHER #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTESTERS
The ‘treason’ trial of Michael Lenin and 10 other #endbadgovernance protesters was scheduled to commence on 29th of January after its postponement last year.
Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others would be arraigned in Court on trumped up charges of treason and terrorism financing which could potentially earn them a death penalty if not quashed.
Further details on www.NigeriaSolidarity.com/Events
Diary
2025
July
5 NSSN Annual Conference 2025 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall London
12 Durham Miners Gala details
18–20 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival details
