Starmer and Reeves’s Spending Review has confirmed that there will be no relief from grinding cuts. Workers have already faced 14 years of brutal Tory austerity but funding pressures remain, with many sectors continuing to face a battering.
The NSSN Conference on Saturday 5th July is a forum to discuss what we’re facing and organise the fightback. As usual, we will be giving a platform to workers taking action, such as the Unite Birmingham bin workers, and building solidarity and support. And it’s a chance for all trade unionists and anti-cuts campaigners to speak and share their experiences and be part of the discussion on the way forward.
Unions on the Spending Review – TSSA, Unite, PCS, Prospect, FDA, GMB, Unison, RCN, NEU, UCU, FBU, Equity, Musicians Union, Community
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 so far – Eddie Dempsey RMT General Secretary, Steve Gillan POA General Secretary, Steve Wright FBU General Secretary, Annoesjka Valent NAPO National Official, Ian Hodson BFAWU National President, Ed Harlow NEU Vice-President, Fiona Brittle PCS NEC (personal capacity), Unite Birmingham Bin Strikers, striking Unison Gloucestershire phlebotomists, Ben Golightly Swansea DPAC
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.
Model motion and letter for union branches & trades councils to get support for NSSN conference & NSSN TUC Congress lobby & rally 1pm Brighton Sunday 7th September
Support the Unite Birmingham Bin Strike – The NSSN will continue to give full solidarity to Unite and the striking binworkers and will keep mobilising support for the strike and for any action called to back the workers.
Birmingham bin strike could last until December as workers vote for further industrial action (5 June) – Offer ‘watered down’ by government commissioners and council leader after May Acas negotiations must be improved. Nearly 400 Birmingham workers facing brutal pay cuts have voted to continue industrial action, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The ballot, which resulted in 97 per cent of workers voting in favour of strike action on a 75 per cent turnout, means strike action could last until December. Strikes began in January after the council told the bin workers they would face pay cuts of up to £8,000 – a quarter of their wages for some. The devastating cuts will leave many unable to pay their bills, rents and mortgages. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week. “True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May. It had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations. It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully. It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on. The decision makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer. Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. Unite calls on the decision makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations” 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
- Send a postcard to tell Birmingham Council’s leader to ‘Stop attacking your workers’ at https://supportbinworkers.unitetheunion.postbug.app/
Twenty-five unions sign open letter calling on government and Birmingham Council to end bin strike read more in Morning Star
Unite: Local authority workers in parliamentary protest for fairer council funding. Unite leader Sharon Graham to speak at demo calling for action to save stricken councils – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will deliver a speech at Parliament on Monday during a protest for fairer council funding.
When: 12:30 Monday 16 June
Where: College Green opposite Parliament, Abingdon Street, SW1A 0AA details
Fight the disability welfare cuts
NSSN activists include many disabled members and strongly encourages working with DPAC to organise against the welfare cuts. There are protests coming up targeting MPs who are openly for the cuts including DWP minister (31st May) after organising excellent protests in Swansea, Cardiff + AND the sham, not so public consultations. Go to the DPAC website and Facebook page for more information
Disabled union members have also drafted this Quiz as a tool for use in, before or after meetings and workplace actions to highlight the scale and depth of those round of cuts. They have requested we share this online version to test and further feedback how and where you could use it. Using Google forms
https://forms.gle/m8GWU9eyyFaEQRDe6
Feedback in the final 3 questions of the quiz or reply to this bulletin with subject header ‘Dis cutz’.
We can also arrange for the quiz replies and sources to be shared for those leading any workshop or meetings.
Solidarity and thanks
DPAC: June 30th and July 3rd – protest the Green Paper
Save the date. Protest the disability cuts.
Disabled People Against Cuts and allies are organising a mass Protest of Parliament on June 30th and a national day of action on July 3rd when the second reading of the bill will occur. More details to follow but it is essential that as many people as possible attend these events. Some funding is available for travel and other essential costs. Email [email protected]. If you are able to arrange a local protest on July 3rd please send us details of your event.
International solidarity: SEIU 721 and Labor Allies Pack Grand Park to Demand the Release of David Huerta – and Huerta Is Released on Bond (9 June) – We at SEIU 721 joined our fellow LA-area labor unions, our allies in the local clergy, and our fellow activists in the immigration justice movement today to demand the release of SEIU California’s David Huerta from federal custody. He was unjustly arrested by ICE agents last week while standing up for immigrants’ rights read more
NSSN News
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Union News
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RMT
RMT to ballot GWR Gateline staff over dangerous lone staffing plans (11 June) – Rail union, RMT is balloting over 300 Gateline staff across Great Western Railway (GWR) for strike action in response to company plans to impose single staffing and extend working hours. The proposals would leave staff isolated, more exposed to abuse and violence, and unable to provide proper ticket enforcement and adequate assistance to passengers. Unfortunately management have resorted to attempting to intimidate workers by insisting they will not win the ballot and that the new working arrangements are being imposed regardless of union action. RMT is clear that single staffing on Gatelines is a direct attack on the safety, dignity and job security of frontline workers and the union will not accept it read more
RMT slams First Group’s profiteering and calls for crackdown on open access rail (10 June) – Rail union, RMT today condemned First Group’s huge profits and its ongoing exploitation of Britain’s fragmented railway system through open access operations. The company announced a surge in operating profits of £222 million, a boosted final dividend, and a fresh £50 million share buyback. First Group’s open access arm, which operates Hull Trains and Lumo, generated £106 million in revenue and £34 million in operating profit – a margin of 32%. In 2023 it reported an operating profit margin of 28% from its two open access operations, as it continues to siphon money out of the railway network without contributing fairly to its upkeep read more
CrossCountry workers to begin overtime ban in rest day working dispute (23 May) – RMT members at CrossCountry will begin an overtime ban and refuse to work rest days from Monday 9 June to Friday 25 October – excluding Sundays. The action follows Cross Country’s refusal to negotiate on enhancements for all grades to overtime and rest day working, despite previously agreed commitments read more
RMT strike action to hit Nottingham bus services in pay dispute (23 May) – Bus workers employed by CT4N in Nottingham will take strike action across four days in June and July in a dispute over pay and working conditions. Strike action will take place on the following days:
• Thursday 12 June 2025
• Wednesday 18 June 2025
• Wednesday 25 June 2025
• Wednesday 2 July 2025
Bus workers operate critical services across Nottingham, including the Medilink routes serving NHS hospitals and clinics. Despite the vital role they play in the city’s transport system, CT4N staff remain underpaid and undervalued read more
Balfour Beatty Rail Plant strike ballot to open (19 May) – Rail union RMT, will open a ballot for industrial action on Tuesday, after Balfour Beatty refused to improve its derisory 2.5% pay offer. RMT members working rail infrastructure maintenance, operations and engineering and technical support, have already overwhelmingly rejected this offer, which does nothing to address the rising cost of living. Despite further talks, the company has refused to make a meaningful improvement in their approach. The ballot will close on Tuesday 10th June 2025 and the union is urging members to vote “Yes.” Read more
ASLEF
ASLEF at TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference 2025 read more
ASLEF members at Hull Trains take a second day of strike action (24 May) – Train drivers at Hull Trains who are members of ASLEF – and all the drivers at the company are members of ASLEF – are on strike again today [Saturday] in support of a colleague who has been unfairly sacked and done nothing wrong. The strike yesterday [Friday] caused serious disruption and forced the company – an open access operator owned by FirstGroup, the rail and bus giant which also owns Avanti West Coast, Great Western, Lumo, and London Tramlink – to cancel many of its services on the East Coast main line. The same will happen to Hull Trains’ services today read more
From Morning Star: Managing director of the company that owns strike-hit Hull Trains steps down (11 June) read more
TSSA
Spending Review – Investment for Welsh railways falls short (12 May) – Rail union TSSA has welcomed more funding for railways in Wales announced by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, in the Spending Review but believes much more is needed. As part of the Spending Review railways in Wales will now get an extra £445m over the next decade – including new funding for five new railway stations between Cardiff Central and Severn Tunnel Junction, Padeswood sidings and Cardiff West junction. However, the union is clear this figure falls well short of what is needed across the country read more
Spending Review – Transport Investment Fails to Impress (11 June) – Maryam Eslamdoust, General Secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), today issued the following statement in response to the 2025 Spending Review: “The government’s Spending Review presents challenges and is disappointing for the transport sector. Transport is one of the few departments with a real terms cut in its expenditure limit over the five-year review period…” read more
TSSA warns of industrial action at Translink (9 June) – Transport union TSSA is warning of industrial action in a dispute over pay among its members at Ulsterbus and Northern Ireland Railways (operating as Translink). Members are being balloted on the issue, raising the prospect of services being reduced or failing to run at all following the close of ballots on the 16th of June. TSSA members taking part in any forthcoming industrial action work across Clerical, Management, Professional & Technical Grades (MPT) and the Northern Ireland Railways Supervisor Grade (including railway controllers). Members are being asked whether they support taking industrial action short of a strike and action comprising of a strike. TSSA has been encouraging a yes vote to both questions. These disputes relate to the failure to offer a satisfactory pay award for 2024 in the Clerical and MPT grades. TSSA members are unhappy that Translink have offered members a worse deal than other grades within the business which falls well short of achieving parity with pay uplifts across the company. The railway supervisors have a separate dispute regarding their contract based on pay disparity with the grades they supervise. The ballots opened on the 19th May and close at noon on the 16th June 2025 read more
TSSA welcomes boost for devolved transport (4 June) – Rail union TSSA has hailed as ‘long overdue’ a £15 billion increase in funding for transport across city regions in England outside London ahead of the government’s Spending Review next week read more
Unite
Unite: Local authority workers in parliamentary protest for fairer council funding. Unite leader Sharon Graham to speak at demo calling for action to save stricken councils – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will deliver a speech at Parliament on Monday during a protest for fairer council funding.
When: 12:30 Monday 16 June
Where: College Green opposite Parliament, Abingdon Street, SW1A 0AA details
Heathrow Airport strike breaking shame causes passenger assistance dispute escalation (12 June) – Heathrow bosses draft-in 500 plus staff to try and break strike as Wilson James barred from operations. Around 800 Heathrow workers assisting passengers with restricted mobility will intensify their pay strikes next week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The escalation is a result of an unprecedented attempt by Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) bosses to strike break. HAL has drafted more than 500 workers, which Unite believes will be from a third-party contractor, to partly cover services at terminals three and five. Wilson James has been barred from operations in these areas during the strike action. Terminals two and four will not be covered by the drafted staff. There will be widespread disruption to services throughout the airport. Unite also has concerns that the labour brought into break the strikes will not have the skills, knowledge or training to undertake a safe and efficient service. Questions have also been raised about proper vetting and if the Civil Aviation Authority is aware of Heathrow’s plans…Around 500 workers began strike action in April with the number of staff taking industrial action swelling since then to approximately 800 due to the anger over the lack of fair pay. The workers are angry that they are paid 10 per cent less than colleagues at Gatwick doing the same job. A second round of strikes took place in May, with five days of fresh industrial action beginning on Monday (16 June) and lasting until Friday (20 June) read more
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald to address launch of Unite ‘Extreme Weather’ demands at Stormont (12 June) – Event co-sponsored by Philip Brett MLA and Emma Sheerin MLA. Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald will speak at the launch of Unite’s ‘Extreme Weather’ survey results and policy demands in Stormont next week. The launch will also be addressed by event sponsors Philip Brett MLA (Democratic Unionist Party) and Emma Sheerin MLA (Sinn Féin) read more
Unite response to government spending review (11 June) – Responding to the government’s comprehensive spending review, announced today, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Whilst outside and inside the spending review, several of the demands Unite has been calling for have been met – for example Sizewell C, Rolls Royce SMRs winter fuel, increased defence funding, investment in the steel industry and Heathrow expansion – this spending review lacks the vision to deliver the fundamental change needed for everyday people. The UK is the sixth richest economy in the world, and we need to end this cautious cycle of robbing Peter to pay Paul. You can’t have an NHS without workers. Staff are crying out for fair pay increases to offset a decade of real terms pay cuts. Pitting workers against communities is not the answer…” read more
Bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis to close shifting all production to England (11 June) – 400 highly-skilled jobs at risk in local communities rocked by economic devastation. Unite the union has reacted with anger today (Wednesday 11 June) after the announcement by bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis to close its Falkirk and Larbert facilities and called-out government ministers for their “inaction and silence”. Alexander Dennis in a meeting with the workforce this afternoon said it would be moving all manufacturing operations into a single site in Scarborough, England, putting 400 jobs at immediate risk. The company’s Scottish based manufacturing facility in Falkirk is set to be shut down and the site closed. Production lines at Larbert will also be suspended upon the completion of current contracts. The Scottish based operations represents around 22 per cent of Alexander Dennis’ workforce read more
Unite to ballot 1500 construction workers at Sellafield for strikes over lack of pay (11 June) – Nuclear site clean-up could grind to a halt if workers walk out. Staff demanding recognition for specialised work. Unite, the country’s leading trade union for nuclear site workers, is to ballot around 1,500 construction workers from 36 contractors at Sellafield. The affected workers range from electricians, joiners, pipefitters, riggers, groundworkers, welders and painters and other vital construction roles. The long running dispute is around the employers at Sellafield refusing to resolve requests for additional ‘Sellafield Specific Allowances’. The requested allowances relate to Unite construction members engaging and constructing on advanced technologies projects. A further demand was for the introduction of a nuclear professional allowance for Unite members who are working in a unique working environmental at Sellafield. All such requests have been refused by the employers read more
Unite welcomes restoration of winter fuel payment by Stormont Executive (10 June) – Unite has welcomed this afternoon’s announcement by communities minister Gordon Lyons that the winter fuel payment will be restored as a clear win for pensioners. The announcement will mean that the Northern Ireland Executive will restore the payment in line with yesterday’s announcement by the Labour government which only applied in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below £35,000 will receive the payment in full. Unite has led the campaign, alongside the national pensioners’ convention and other pensioner groups, for restoration of the payment. Northern Ireland is the UK region with the highest rates of fuel poverty read more
Gatwick refuellers strike ends after Unite secures pay deal (10 June) – Strikes by Gatwick plane refuellers employed by Redline Oil have ended after Unite secured a pay deal worth 9.1 per cent for hourly rates. The workers voted to accept the 18-month deal by 92 per cent on a turnout of 87 per cent. They will receive a 4.75 per cent pay rise backdated to October 2024, plus an additional 1.75 per cent from October 2025. The deal also includes a reduction in the working week from 40 to 39 hours with no loss of pay backdated to October 2024. The reduction in the working week increases the hourly rate by 2.6 per cent – bringing the full value of the deal to 9.1 per cent. There is also a reduction in the number of days the workers must wait to receive sick pay, from three days to one. Pay deals will also now come into effect from October rather than April, bringing the anniversary date in line with other Gatwick refuellers read more
Wigan Alpla UK plastic packaging strikes over fire and rehire disgrace (9 June) – Coca Cola, Muller, Unilever, Britvic supply chains facing disruption due to Alpla UK’s exploitation. Plastic packaging workers employed at Alpla UK in Golborne, Wigan, will strike over the company’s attempts to fire and rehire them on degraded contracts. Over 150 workers, members of the UK’s leading union, Unite, are being threatened with the sack if they do not accept shift changes that will increase their hours, including extra nights and weekend working…The workers will strike on 16, 17, 27 and 28 June and 11 and 12 July. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved. Clients reliant on plastic packaging from the Golborne factory, including Coca Cola, Muller, Unilever and Britvic, will be impacted read more
Six weeks strike set to stop Stagecoach West Scotland bus services (9 June) – Unite claims rejected pay offer leaves drivers poorest in Stagecoach’s UK operations
Around 430 Stagecoach drivers will start all-out strike action from today (9 June) lasting six weeks in an escalating pay dispute. Bus services are set to stop across the west of Scotland after Stagecoach failed to improve on a basic four per cent pay offer which was tabled last November. The offer was emphatically rejected by Unite’s membership with 98 per cent of bus drivers backing strike action to secure a better wage offer in a high turnout of 81 per cent. The union claim’s the current pay offer would leave the Stagecoach West Scotland drivers the poorest paid across Stagecoach’s UK operations. Unite has emphasised that variations proposed by Stagecoach on the basic four per cent offer have all been rejected outright because the drivers were asked to work longer hours, take longer unpaid breaks and potentially lose up to one week’s annual leave. The six weeks of continuous action starts today (9 June), and it will last until 21 July read more
Northern Ireland: New data reveals shortfalls in night-time ambulance and rapid response cover (8 June) – Unite demands 45-minute maximum ambulance waiting times outside emergency departments to reduce pressures on service. Unite has released data revealing the crisis in night-time shift cover in Northern Ireland’s Ambulance Service (NIAS). The figures cover a 30 day period from 2 April to 1 May and include shift staffing for double-crewed ambulances (DCAs) and rapid response vehicles (RRVs). On only four nights did the number of DCA crews meet the target number of shifts; in RRV shifts, the target was not reached day or night for the entire 30 days. There were huge variation more locally with some areas having surplus cover while at the same time others were left without any cover. The crisis in shift cover in NIAS is rooted in a long-term failure to recruit and retain workers as well as the practice of having ambulances waiting hours outside hospitals to handover patients. The union’s NIAS membership is calling for the immediate introduction of a 45-minute maximum waiting time for ambulances to be parked outside emergency departments with all patients being accepted by hospitals at that point…Unite members in the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service continue to participate in a work to rule which commenced in November 2024 over staff welfare and safe staffing read more
800 Glasgow airport workers head towards summer strike action (7 June) – Unite in pay and conditions disputes with five companies. Unite the union said today (Saturday 7 June) that over 800 workers are heading towards summer strike action in disputes with five companies based at Glasgow airport. The companies involved in disputes with Unite are Glasgow Airport Ltd, ICTS Central Search, Swissport, Menzies Aviation and Falck. Unite has confirmed that if there is no successful resolution to the disputes in the coming days then it will move towards multiple ballots for industrial action within two weeks. 120 workers employed by Glasgow Airport Limited have rejected a basic 3.6 per cent increase. The workers include airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers and managers. The company made £40.65m in its latest recorded accounts. 50 Falck firefighters who perform fire safety functions at the airport have also rejected a basic wage increase of 3.6 per cent. The company made £1.1m in its latest recorded profits. Meanwhile 300 Menzies Aviation workers have rejected a basic uplift worth around 4.25 per cent. The workers include dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers. Menzies in its latest financial statement reported global earnings before tax of $382m(USD)… A further 250 ICTS central search workers are currently involved in a dispute over understaffing, working conditions and pay. The workers deal with passengers directly in the security search area and process them for flights. ICTS (UK) Limited made £4.4m in its latest accounts. Over 100 Swissport workers are in dispute over working rotas and work-life balance. Swissport is the country’s largest ground handler. Workers provide ground handling services to many major airlines, including ticketing and baggage handling read more
Glasgow and Edinburgh airports summer strike action looms (27 May) – 600 Menzies Aviation ground service workers to ballot unless new offer tabled. Ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected pay offers as Unite says summer strike action looms over the nation’s largest airports. Around 600 workers including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers have rejected two separate pay offers by Menzies Aviation at each airport. In the region of 300 Menzies Aviation workers emphatically rejected a basic uplift worth around 4.25 per cent at Glasgow airport. By an emphatic 100 per cent, around 300 workers based at Edinburgh airport also rejected an offer worth around four per cent read more
Wellman International: Buyer must be found to safeguard Cavan jobs (6 June) – Unions to meet examiner next week. Plant can play critical role in enhancing Ireland’s recycling capacity. Unions representing workers at Wellman International in Cavan are calling on the government to intervene to find an alternative owner following the news that the plant, currently owned by multinational Indorama Ventures, is to enter examinership. SIPTU, Unite and Connect met with workers in recent days and will be engaging with the examiner next week read more
Unite to ballot NHS members over “substandard” pay award (4 June) – Union urges members in England and Wales to reject real-terms pay cut. Workers also balloted for industrial action. Unite, one of Britain’s biggest health unions, has begun balloting its NHS members over the recent below-inflation pay award from the government. The union, which represents staff working across the NHS in almost every professional group has urged members to reject the insultingly low 3.6 per cent award. It is also balloting members on whether they would be prepared to take strike action. The pay award is below the rate of inflation, with RPI sitting 4.5 per cent in April. The increase is less than doctors and dentists, who have been awarded four per cent along with an additional £750 increase. The increase is also lower than Scotland NHS pay award where workers were awarded 4.25 per cent for 2025/26 and 3.75 per cent for 2026/27 with a guarantee this is 1 per cent above the Consumer Price Index (CPI)… The ballot for Welsh NHS staff opens on 9th June and the ballot for English NHS workers on 16th June. The ballots will be open for three and four weeks respectively. Should staff reject the award and vote for industrial action, Unite will announce dates and locations in due course read more
Glasgow subway workers to strike over working conditions (3 June) – Unite says SPT ‘running on empty’ due to underpaid and overstretched system. Unite has confirmed that its Glasgow subway members have emphatically voted for strike action in a dispute over working conditions. Unite members voted by 97.5 per cent for strike action with over 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) workers set to take part in a series of 24-hour stoppages this summer. The strike action is scheduled to take place on 21, 25, 27 and 28 June. The disruption will mean the subway system will be closed on the Punk All Dayer festival featuring the Sex Pistols along with the Sting, Simple Minds and the Stereophonics gigs being held as part of the summer sessions at Bellahouston Park. A continuous overtime ban will also be in place from 13 June read more
Scottish Water pay offer rejected as strike action resumes (30 May) – Seven days of strike action set for next week. A new wave of strike action is hitting Scottish Water next week as the pay dispute continues to boil over. The latest pay offer which contained no substantive improvements was overwhelmingly rejected by Unite’s 500-strong membership on Friday (30 May). Strike action is taking place from 2 June until the end of 8 June involving Unite’s membership at offices and wastewater treatment works across the whole of Scotland. Unite will stage protests: When & Where: 10:00 – Wednesday 4 June at Shieldhall Depot, 38 Renfrew Road Govan Glasgow, G51 4SU read more
Liverpool Hospital lab workers’ strike called off after parade incident (27 May) – A planned strike by workers at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital today (27 May) has been called off following yesterday’s incident in Liverpool city centre. Over 50 workers were set to walk out today after also taking action on 22 and 23 May after concerns that staff burnout and understaffing was putting patients at risk. The members of Unite work in 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 samples including blood and tissue before a clinician uses the results to decide on the correct course of action for the patient. However, following the incident in Liverpool which saw a car plough into a crowd in the city centre during Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade yesterday evening leaving over fifty people injured, the workers made the decision to suspend today’s industrial action. Unite regional officer Derek Jones said: “Following yesterday’s tragic events in Liverpool, members took the immediate decision to suspend action so they could provide full support to the major incident which has been declared by the hospital trust. The dispute is not over and more action is planned – but we are urging Liverpool Clinical Laboratories to come back to the table and commit to addressing the problems with staffing and overwork.” At present, further strike dates have not been announced read more
London Hedin Mercedes mechanics poised to strike (23 May) – Brooklands, Bromley, Croydon and Dartford workers angry at refusal to offer pay rise. London mechanics at Hedin Mercedes-Benz dealerships are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The mechanics, responsible for Mercedes repairs, MOTs and servicing across the capital, are angry that the company is refusing to put forward any pay offer for 2025. Last year, the workers received a two per cent pay rise, while the average rate of RPI inflation for 2024 was 3.6 per cent. Meanwhile, RPI inflation for April 2025 was 4.5 per cent…The workers are being balloted until 9 June. Strike action would impact Hedin customers requiring repairs, servicing and MOTs across its four sites in Brooklands, Bromley, Croydon and Dartford read more
NHS Pay: Government needs long-term solution to tackle health staff crisis in Wales (22 May) – Unite, one of the UK’s principal health sector trade unions, has warned that the government’s pay proposal for NHS staff still fails to address the long-term issues of low pay which is threatening the future of the service in Wales. NHS workers are being offered 3.6 per cent following a recommendation from the pay review body (PRB). While the pay announcement for NHS staff is above the 2.8 per cent increase that was floated by the UK government at the end of last year, it is below the rate of inflation (RPI) which is currently running at 4.5 per cent. It is also below what NHS staff in Scotland have accepted. The proposed increase also fails to reverse a lost decade of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases, which have significantly decreased pay in real terms and resulted in NHS staff struggling with the cost-of-living as well as the NHS in Wales having difficulties with recruitment and retaining staff read more
Pay for Northern Ireland health workers must keep pace with rest of NHS (22 May) – Proposed increase doesn’t resolve long-term problems faced by HSC workers with staff shortages and cuts creating a toxic environment. Unite has warned that the government’s pay proposal for NHS staff still fails to address the long-term issues of low pay and staff cuts which is threatening the future of the service. The Pay Review Body (PRB) which proposes pay increases for NHS workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has recommended a 3.6 per cent rise for 2025-26 and this has now been offered by the government to NHS workers in England. The increase is below both the rate of inflation (RPI) which is currently running at 4.5 per cent as well as the increase accepted by NHS staff in Scotland. The increase will fail to reverse the lost decade of pay freezes and below inflation increases which have resulted in NHS staff struggling with the cost-of-living and a staffing crisis read more
NHS Pay: Government needs long-term solution to tackle health staff crisis (22 May) – Unite, one of the UK’s principal health sector trade unions, has warned that the government’s pay proposal for NHS staff still fails to address the long-term issues of low pay and staff cuts which is threatening the future of the service. NHS workers are being offered 3.6 per cent following a recommendation from the pay review body (PRB). While the pay announcement for NHS staff is above the 2.8 per cent increase that was floated by the government at the end of last year, it is below the rate of inflation (RPI) which is currently running at 4.5 per cent. It is also below what NHS staff in Scotland have accepted. The proposed increase also fails to reverse a lost decade of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases, which have significantly decreased pay in real terms and resulted in NHS staff struggling with the cost-of-living read more
Hundreds of striking Heathrow workers march to airport HQ demanding fair pay (20 May) – 800 Wilson James workers assisting passengers with restricted mobility call on Heathrow bosses to intervene as strikes intensify. Hundreds of striking workers will march to Heathrow’s head offices in Hillingdon to demand the airport’s management intervene in their pay dispute with contractor Wilson James read more
Anti-poverty charity workers to strike due to inflated directors’ pay (19 May) – Workers at the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K) will go on strike later this month in a row over directors’ pay. Staff at the London-based anti-poverty charity accepted a three per cent pay rise in January. However, the workers, who are members of Unite, have now voted to take industrial action after the charity signalled its intention to press ahead with plans to increase the salary for directors – a senior management grade – by 25 per cent. Z2K has a radical political background, having been founded by the late Reverend Paul Nicholson during the 1990s in opposition to the Poll Tax. Now, the organisation works to tackle the ‘twin pillars’ that create and sustain poverty – inadequate incomes and high costs – through providing advice and campaigning. Workers at the charity will be undergoing 2 weeks of continuous strike action from 27 May until 6 June to demand fairer pay increases read more
Red Handling strike at Gatwick suspended as Unite members are balloted (15 May) – Industrial action by Red Handling workers at Gatwick Airport over late and missing pension payments have been suspended for two weeks to allow members to vote on new working terms. Over one hundred workers at Red Handling, who are members of Unite and work in areas including baggage handling, check-in and flight dispatching were set to walk out this Sunday (18 May) as well as 25 May, but this has been postponed after Unite received proof of payment of pension contributions from Red Handling to provider Royal London. Red Handling has also agreed to cover the loss of interest on any contributions that were not paid and there will be an independent audit to ensure the situation with missing pensions does not happen again. Some Red Handling workers had also been paid wages late leaving them in financial difficulty – but the new offer would also mean Red Handling would have to give staff a bonus payment if payday was late. Meanwhile, workers had also complained of overwork and not having rest breaks and under the new terms there will be guarantees around this, such as giving staff overtime pay read more
Unite strike action against Veolia to escalate as workers in Cheshire balloted (14 May) – Workers at toxic waste incineration plant in Ellesmere Port furious at low pay. Unite’s long running campaign against anti-union employer Veolia is set to escalate further as workers in Cheshire are being balloted for potential strike action. The union already has a recognition dispute with the company in Sheffield that has seen workers on continuous strike since last autumn. Now workers who do a dangerous and difficult job staffing a toxic waste incineration facility in Cheshire are set to walk out over pay. Nearly 50 workers are furious at the pay offer on the table and are seeking an urgent improvement. They are being balloted for strike action that would cripple the plant and stop incineration taking place, leading to a stockpiling of dangerous and hazardous waste read more
Majority of workers at Sheffield refuse site want Unite recognition agreement (28 Mar) 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
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
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
CWU
CWU LIVE – Standing Up For Our Members in Parliament with Chris Webb MP (12 June) – This week we’re joined by Labour MP Chris Webb – proud CWU member and champion for working people in Parliament. From union roots to Westminster battles, hear why having trade unionists involved in politics matters watch video
CWU members in Santander need your support. They have faced outsourcing, offshoring and technology is being used to negatively impact our members futures. They are now fighting back with a joint campaign with Advance Union. All CWU members, family members, friends and the wider public can help us by signing and sharing this petition.
Every signature counts – https://cwu.eaction.org.uk/cwuadvancepetition
Capita BBC Audience Services members to vote on inflation-busting pay offer (8 May) – The CWU is recommending that Capita members working on the BBC Audience Services contract accept an inflation-busting pay offer being offered to them this week. After ongoing pay discussions where the union raised the question of the current financial situation, which remains volatile and uncertain, it was agreed that the company would offer a 5% wage increase for all employees, as well as an additional day of annual leave (which must be taken before December of this year). This is the first result – and a major one – of the new bargaining unit established for the group of workers, who manage public questions, comments, complaints and general feedback for the public broadcaster read more
PCS
You can show your support to the strikes by PCS members by:
- Making donations to the PCS Fighting Fund Levy account, sort code: 60-83-01, account no. 20331490
- Sending solidarity messages to [email protected]
PCS demands urgent meeting with Cabinet Office over Gaza and role of civil servants (13 June) – General secretary writes to permanent secretary following comments made by senior FCDO officials which suggest civil servants should ‘resign’ if they disagree with government over Gaza read more
Resounding turnout and yes vote in OFGEM strike ballot (12 June) – PCS members at the energy regulator OFGEM have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay, jobs, working conditions and industrial relations. On a turnout of 65%, smashing the undemocratic ‘threshold’ for action, 85% of members voted ‘yes’ for strike action. This is a resounding result, demonstrating the members’ depth of feeling and resolve. Our members have called time on OFGEM’s failure to fix pay in the organisation, on its refusal to provide reassurances on jobs and on its lack of regard for the agreements it makes with their union. With this new mandate now on the table, we now expect serious responses from OFGEM to resolve all the issues in dispute read more
Spending review: PCS vows to defend members from threats (11 June) – PCS has pledged to fighting hard to ensure we defend our members from any threats that may arise to their job security and to persuade the government to deliver properly funded, good quality public services, following the spending review announcement. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her spending review in the House of Commons today which revealed that government departments will have to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29 read more
PCS condemns racist violence in Northern Ireland (11 June) – PCS has condemned the racist violence that has taken place in Northern Ireland over the past number of nights, following the alleged sexual assault of a teenager in Ballymena at the weekend read more
Modified working times at Churchill War Rooms (11 June) – PCS is extremely concerned about the impact of modified working times on our members working at the Churchill War Rooms in London read more
Support CAA strikers (10 June) – Show support for striking PCS Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) members based at Gatwick Airport and Canary Wharf who are taking six days of industrial action over pay. The members working for the aviation industry regulator, had a 2-day strike on 3 and 4 June, and on strike today and tomorrow (10 and 11), as well as 17 and 18 June. Our members also walked out in January and March and took part in a work to rule with an overtime ban, in their pay dispute which goes back to early 2024. The employer’s pay offer was imposed in August 2024 despite being rejected by PCS and Prospect. You can show you support on picket lines at the following addresses tomorrow from 8am to 10am: 5th Floor, Westferry House, 11 Westferry Circus, London, E14 4H
Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation House, South Area, Gatwick, West Sussex, RH6
And send messages of support to [email protected] read more
Groundbreaking Win for PCS Facilities Management Members (10 June) – PCS members employed by outsourced giants OCS, G4S and ISS have voted to accept a settlement in a significant win of their long running disputes. PCS members employed by outsourced giants OCS, G4S and ISS in several buildings on the Government Property Agency contract have voted to accept full and final pay offers in a significant win to their long running disputes. The offers came as a result of an extended period of heroic and determined industrial action by the members who were determined and resolute in their fight for decent pay, terms and conditions. The ballots which closed yesterday (9) delivered decisive votes in favour of accepting the settlement which increases pay and significantly improves terms and conditions, including the implementation of company sick pay from day one of absence, an increase in annual leave entitlement, full maternity and paternity pay and paid bereavement leave read more
PCS Revenue & Customs Group respond to the Winter Fuel announcement (9 June) – Following the chancellor’s announcement today, PCS Revenue and Customs group president Hector Wesley highlights questions that need to be answered on the impact of the announcement read more
Winter fuel U-turn welcome but government should go further (9 June) – PCS has welcomed the chancellor’s announcement today that pensioners with income of £35,000 or below will receive the winter fuel payment, but we believe the government should go further read more
Benton Park View strike rally attracts support from across the movement (9 June) – The strike rally at Benton Park View in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne drew support from across the labour and trade union movement. The rally on Friday marked over 5 months of strike action by employer services members on the site in defence of PCS reps Joel, Gordon and Rachel, dismissed by HMRC for trade union activity. Acting branch secretary Angie Foggett thanked members for their selfless support for the 3 reps. Joel and Gordon gave emotional accounts of the impact of the dismissals on their lives and those of their families… PCS HMRC Group will now meet to discuss the next steps in the campaign 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
PCS responds to government’s pay gap reporting consultation (6 June) – PCS has submitted a detailed response to the UK Government’s consultation on the proposed requirement for employers to report their ethnicity and disability pay gaps read more
PCS signs joint letter to prime minister on Climate and Nature Bill (6 June) – The letter signed by 24 unions calls for debates and consultation on the Bill and a just transition with secure, unionised work in the jobs of the future read more
PCS backs call to end ban on secondary picketing (5 June) – PCS is backing amendments to the employment rights bill which would remove the provisions that render unlawful all forms of ‘secondary’ industrial action, including the rights of pickets to picket places of work other than their own. Labour peer Lord Hendy has submitted amendment 240 to the bill, that aims to remove the provisions that render unlawful all forms of ‘secondary’ industrial action. Green party peer Baroness Jones is sponsoring the amendment read more
Palace of Westminster security staff balloted for strike action (4 June) – The dispute is around five main issues which the employer has failed to address, of which the key issue is the removal of six days’ annual leave/rest days. Nearly 300 PCS members employed as security staff at the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) are being balloted to ask if they are willing to take strike action over their employer’s failure to address a number of outstanding issues read more
New e-action launched: tell your MP to stop cuts to the overseas aid budget (4 June) – PCS is sounding the alarm on devastating cuts to the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), also known as the overseas aid budget. The UK government has announced a drastic reduction in its ODA spending: £0.5 billion cut in 2025/26, £4.8 billion cut in 2026/27 and a £6.5 billion cut in 2027/28. This will slash the UK’s ODA contribution to just 0.3% of gross national income (GNI)—a historic low. These cuts won’t just affect numbers on a spreadsheet. They will put UK civil service jobs at risk, especially under the shrinking “FCDO 2030” agenda and undermine staff pay and working conditions read more
CAA members to take further strike action over pay (2 June) – Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) staff based at Gatwick Airport and Canary Wharf have announced a further six days of industrial action. The members working for the aviation industry regulator also walked out in January and March and took part in a work to rule with an overtime ban, in their pay dispute which goes back to early 2024. The employer’s pay offer was imposed in August 2024 despite being rejected by PCS and Prospect. The next round of strike action will take place on June 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. Pay negotiations for the 2025-26 period are underway, but PCS considers the offer made so far to be inadequate. We are calling for an inflation-linked pay increase that includes a restoration element specifically covering 2024–25 read more
Civil service pay remit guidance – an update from the NEC (29 May) – On 22 May, the UK Government announced its position on public sector pay for 2025/26. In the UK civil service, the pay remit figure was set at 3.25%, with an extra 0.5% to deal with specific issues including low pay, giving a total remit of 3.75%. During the talks on the remit guidance, PCS was clear with the government that its stated intention to impose a figure of 2.8% was unacceptable. We were clear our members required an inflation-proofed pay rise; together with a degree of pay restoration for the erosion of living standards they had suffered over decades; and measures to deal with chronic low pay. We are pleased that the government has accepted some of our arguments read more
MyCSP members to be balloted for strike action (22 May) – The company is refusing to acknowledge PCS as the recognised trade union for staff. PCS has notified MyCSP that we will be balloting our members for industrial action due to their continued failure to acknowledge PCS as the recognised trade union. MyCSP administers the civil service pensions arrangements on behalf of the Cabinet Office, and provides pensions to over 1.5 million people. MyCSP refuses to acknowledge PCS, despite PCS having a number of legacy staff who TUPEd over from the civil service. It has now become essential for PCS to challenge the employer as MyCSP staff are due to TUPE again to Capita in December 2025. PCS and MyCSP have disputed recognition for a long time but recently it has been made clear that PCS will not formally be involved in TUPE talks, despite previous assurances 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
Prospect
The government must move quickly to publish and implement an ambitious industrial strategy and invest in skills (11 June) – Responding to today’s publication of the government’s Spending Review, Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said: “This increased capital investment in areas like energy, defence, and housing is an important step change, along with maintaining R&D spending, in supporting the areas of the economy that can fuel the growth of tomorrow. The government must move quickly to publish and implement an ambitious industrial strategy and make sure that the skills system gets the urgent attention it needs to make sure workers will see the benefits. While this investment is welcome, the government’s real terms cuts to day-to-day spending in some unprotected departments are worrying and could have a real impact on the government’s ability to deliver on its missions…” read more
Prospect’s position on the 2025 Pay Remit Guidance (9 June) – Last week, Prospect’s Public Services Sector Executive Committee (PSSEC) met and agreed the union’s position on the Pay Remit Guidance (PRG) 2025 for delegated grades. Following the announcement of the Pay Remit Guidance in May, departments will be able to make average awards up to 3.25% and have flexibility to use an extra 0.5% targeted to workforce issues read more
Prospect raises formal Failure to Agree with Babcock Group boss over pension reforms (3 June) – Prospect has written to David Lockwood, chief executive of Babcock International Group, to raise a formal Failure to Agree following unsuccessful negotiations over making much-needed improvements to the company’s pension scheme read more
Prospect responds to BT’s full year review as it enters formal trade dispute over pay offer (22 May) – Rachel Curley, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, responding to BT’s full year results, said: “BT’s decision to increase its dividend at the same time as giving a derisory or non-existent pay rise to managers shows the disregard they have for Prospect members. People will be incensed that when 28% of managers are being offered a 0% pay rise, and the offer is worth 1.24% on average, the company has taken this decision to increase dividends. The overwhelming rejection this week of the insulting pay offer shows the strength of feeling among our members. We have subsequently notified the employer that we are now in a formal trade dispute with them in the hope that BT will now offer a fair deal. If an acceptable offer does not materialise in the coming weeks, we will be looking at all options available to us.” Read more
FDA
‘Disappointing’ lack of workforce plan leaves more questions than answers over Spending Review cuts, says FDA (11 June) – Following the publication of the 2025 Spending Review, the FDA has expressed disappointment at the lack of a civil service workforce plan read more
Civil service pay award demonstrates government has “failed to grasp the nettle of fundamental reform” (23 May) – The government has published its Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance alongside a Written Ministerial Statement confirming the government’s decision to accept the recommendations of the SSRB read more
GMB
10,000 Wilko workers to get £2 million pay out (12 June) – Almost 10,000 Wilko workers will share a pay out of £2 million after GMB won a legal case. A judgement handed down by the Employment Tribunal this week ruled that Wilko had failed to properly consult with workers prior to going bust in 2023. As a result, around 9,000 former staff who worked in a store with 20 or more people will get 4 days pay, while roughly 1,100 who worked in a distribution centre or support centre role will get 13 days pay. The case was taken on by GMB on behalf of thousands of members who lost their job when the discount store went into administration read more
Spending review ‘new chapter for public services’ (11 June) – GMB Union has welcomed increased spending for the public sector in the spending review today [Wednesday] read more
85 per cent of private hire drivers fear race riots will reoccur (10 June) – In the poll, answered by almost 400 drivers, 85 per cent said they believe riots or similar acts of violence may happen again this year. Drivers were worried future violence would impact their families 77 per cent) and their livelihoods (82 per cent). Results from the survey will be delivered to GMB’s annual congress in Brighton today [Tuesday]. Almost half (46 per cent) said they were hit by the riots last summer, either directly or indirectly. Drivers described being threatened with knives and machetes, racially abused and having stones thrown at their cars. Many reported being too scared to work, while one said they carried a baseball bat in their car to ward off attackers. One said it was ‘just heartbreaking to witness humanity at its worst’ read more
Thames Water bonus payments ‘obscene’ (10 June) – GMB has described Thames Water paying senior managers £18 million as ‘obscene’ read more
Reform attacks on council worker pensions ‘cruel nonsense’ (4 June) – GMB has responded to attacks on workers’ pensions in Reform-led councils read more
Brink’s staff vote to strike over pay row (30 May) – GMB Union members employed by logistics and security giant Brink’s have voted decisively to strike over a dispute about pay and working conditions. The strike ballot saw 78 per cent of members, who are based in Feltham, vote in favour of industrial action. These workers, employed as driver couriers, are responsible for transporting cash and valuables—a role that carries significant risk and responsibility. Despite this, members say their concerns have been ignored and their work undervalued. GMB is calling on Brink’s to return to the negotiating table with a fair and respectful offer that reflects the vital role these workers play in the UK’s cash-handling infrastructure read more
GMB ballots NHS staff on pay award (22 May) – GMB Union has begun balloting tens of thousands of NHS and ambulance workers in England on this year’s pay award. The Department for Health and Social Care announced today [Thursday] NHS staff will receive a 3.6 per cent pay rise for 25/26. The ballot opens today and closes on 17 July read more
School staff demand parity with teachers’ pay (22 May) – School support staff have demanded parity with teachers following the pay award today [Thursday]. Teachers have been handed a 4 per cent award, while school staff including teaching assistants, caterers, admin staff and caretakers have been offered just 3.2 percent. Research by GMB, which represents more than 100,000 school support staff across the country, shows teaching assistants earn an average annual salary of just £17,000 read more
Sunderland refuse fury at bin bag snooping (21 May) – Workers at Pallion Recycling Centre are balloting for industrial action that will shut the site this summer. Private company SUEZ, which runs the plant, wants to introduce ‘bag splitting’ – asking workers to open residents’ black bags and search them for recyclable materials. GMB members have raised multiple safety concerns, including the lack of proper protection from the risk of needles and dangerous chemicals. So far SUEZ has not listened. The ballot closes on Friday, 30 May, – with any industrial action expected in June. A petition calling for a reversal of the decision is now live read more
More than 150,000 council and school workers vote on pay offer (6 May) – GMB Union has recommended more than 150,000 members working for councils and schools reject the local government pay offer. Local authority and education workers across England and Wales have been offered a 3.2 per cent pay rise for 2025/26. GMB’s Local Government and Schools Committees has unanimously recommended a rejection and to seek support for industrial action to secure an improved offer. The consultative ballot – which will include a commitment to industrial action – opens on 12 May and closes on 20 June read more
River Thames weir and lockkeepers in strike vote (6 May) – River Thames weir and lockkeepers have begun voting on strike action over safety concerns, GMB has said. Workers will decide whether to take industrial action over ‘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 90 staff were needed during peak season. The ballot opened on Friday [2 May] and closes on 23 May 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
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
Low paid support staff pressured into providing essential medical care at school, says report (13 June) – Medical support for school children should be delivered by health professionals. School support staff feel pressured into providing essential medical care for pupils, despite a lack of training, pay and support, warns a report released by UNISON today (Friday). Around two in five (42%) school employees say they have no option but to give injections and administer prescribed medication to pupils alongside their other duties. The survey of more than 4,000 school workers found just four in 10 (39%) are confident refusing tasks they are uncomfortable with. These could include administering oxygen, attaching feeding tubes and changing colostomy bags read more
Focus on public services will help boost struggling communities (11 June) – Measures show chancellor is trying to turn the page on the austerity disaster. Commenting on the investment plans announced in the spending review today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The chancellor is trying to turn the page on the austerity disaster inflicted on communities across the UK by successive Conservative governments…” read more
Reinstating winter fuel cash is the right thing to do, says UNISON (9 June) – Change will make a huge difference to anyone who struggled to keep warm last winter read more
Reform UK’s pension plan deserves early retirement (5 June) – Inferior pension schemes won’t create savings nor recruit vital staff. Commenting on remarks made by Richard Tice about preventing new recruits to Reform-controlled councils from joining the local government pension scheme alongside threats to cut the pay of existing employees, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said today (Thursday): “This looks like another Reform UK policy scribbled on the back of a beer mat…” read more
UNISON takes the campaign to save Higher Education to parliament (4 June) – UNISON hosted a drop-in lobby for our Fund Our Future campaign read more
Support the striking Gloucester phlebotomists pass 60 days of strike action – Picketing and plan of action for the 15th week:-
Monday 23rd: Joint picket at Gloucester Royal Hospital from 07:30 to 12:00.
Tuesday 24th: Joint picket at Cheltenham General Hospital from 07.30 to 12:00.
Wednesday 25th: Teams meeting at with management in Gloucester at 08:00, then Redwood meeting from 09:00 to 11:00.
Thursday 26th: Joint picket at Cheltenham General Hospital from 07.30 to 12:00.
Friday 27th: Each site relaxed morning leaflet drop and coffee with 5 or 6 people meeting Staff Governors at SEC from 12:00 to 13.30.
Cheltenham and District Trades Union Council hosted a performances of Battle Lines by Banner Theatre, sponsored by Unite SW/007 Gloucester District Branch last week on Wednesday 11th at the George Watson Hall in Tewkesbury. Battle Lines re-visits the communities of the 1984-85 miners’ strike with songs, music and videos of this historic working-class struggle. Banner Theatre’s production links this to today’s battles with songs and videos from striking Amazon workers in Coventry to trade union disputes in the Global South. Banner Theatre will be back in Gloucestershire on Tuesday and there’s still plenty of tickets left. Phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in UNISON will be speaking during the interval of this performance.
Join us at:
- 8 pm on Tuesday 24th June at the Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham: https://bit.ly/4lKHEB4
- https://www.facebook.com/events/1031613618506528/
Tickets are £2 each and can be booked using the above Eventbrite links. All proceeds will be donated to the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign
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
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 again in the week commencing 9th June. 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
Royal College of Nursing
Spending Review won’t transform nursing as RCN calls for action on workforce crisis (11 June) – The RCN tells the Chancellor she must show ambition to improve nursing and patient care, following the government Spending Review read more
RCN pay consultations in England, Northern Ireland and Wales now open (9 June) – The NHS Pay Review Body recommended a 3.6% consolidated pay uplift for all Agenda for Change staff in the NHS/HSC. Do you think this is enough? RCN member consultations on the NHS/HSC pay awards for nursing staff employed on NHS Terms and Conditions (Agenda for Change) in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are now open. We’re asking members if 3.6% is enough. On 22 May, the Westminster government announced a 3.6% pay increase across all bands, backdated to 1 April 2025 in England. The same award was announced by the government in Wales. In Northern Ireland, the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced his wish to implement the Pay Review Body (PRB) recommendation of a 3.6% pay rise. This is for those employed on Agenda for Change terms and conditions for 2025-26. However, he has been advised that currently the funding for the award has not been identified. Therefore, the issue has been referred to the Finance Minister, who will need to secure the support of the wider Northern Ireland Executive before he can confirm any details of the award. This means the 2025-26 pay award for members in Northern Ireland is not yet finalised. Despite this, it’s so important we know how members in Northern Ireland feel about the 3.6% recommendation of the PRB read more
Nursing workforce investment needed to tackle emergency care (6 June) – The RCN demands more detail on how the staff needed to make new urgent and emergency care plans work will be supported 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
New midwives ready to work, but no jobs available despite understaffed services says RCM (4 June) – More than eight out of 10 student midwives due to qualify this year say that are ‘not confident’ they will find a job once graduating despite maternity services across the UK struggling with understaffing, according to a new survey published today by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) read more
RCM announces details of consultation with members on pay award (29 May) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has announced plans to consult with its members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the 3.6% pay award. Last week the RCM cautiously welcomed the news that the governments in all three nations had accepted the pay recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) in full. On Wednesday the RCM Board met to discuss next steps and approved a consultation which will be launched on Monday 16 June and run for three weeks, closing Monday 7 July. The RCM says that, as in previous years it will be led by its members and is urging all Agenda for Change (AfC) members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure their details are up to date so they are able to have their say when the consultation opens read more
Government announces pay award for RCM members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (23 May) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has issued a cautious welcome to the news that the governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have accepted the pay recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) in full. The RCM says while it believes its hard-working members deserve more, the 3.6% is a ‘small improvement’ on the 2.8% the Westminster Government initially said it could afford. The PRB recommended a 3.6% consolidated uplift effective from 1 April 2025 for all Agenda for Change (AfC) staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However, the RCM says that there is still much work to be done to improve the working lives of midwives and maternity support workers read more
CSP
CSP statement on racist violence in Northern Ireland (12 June) – The CSP is deeply alarmed by the recent racist attacks in Northern Ireland including petrol bombings, attacks on a leisure centre sheltering vulnerable families, and retaliatory assaults on Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers, resulting in numerous injuries. The CSP fully supports the Northern Ireland Committee – Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC ICTU) joint statement, which condemns these acts, calls for calm, and urges community, civic, and political leaders to stand united in promoting respect and combating racism. We echo NIC ICTU’s call for swift action – robust support for affected individuals and transparent investigation and prosecutions. This recent wave of hatred is a stark reminder of why, on 9 August 2024, CSP staff and members in Northern Ireland came together in solidarity to oppose racism and hate crimes, declaring ‘Racism and hate crimes have no place in our society. We were there to send a clear message.’ Read more
CSP calls for an equal future for disabled people (9 June) – The CSP has highlighted that life for disabled people is unequal – with higher costs of living, barriers to work, and damaging stereotypes – and has called for government action to tackle these inequities read more
CSP to consult members on NHS 2025 pay award in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (5 June) – A consultation will open on 9 June so that CSP members can have their say on the 3.6 per cent pay award for NHS staff in 2025, as announced by the UK government, Welsh government and Northern Ireland assembly. The CSP’s member-led pay sub-committee met to discuss the pay award last week and agreed to consult members working in the NHS in those countries. The consultation will run from 9 June until 18 July. The CSP pay sub-committee is recommending that members accept the award read more
Pay awards for NHS staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland announced (22 May) – The CSP will consult members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on NHS pay awards revealed this week read more
SOR
SoR members urged to share their thoughts on latest NHS England pay award (June 11) – The consultation survey will close on 26 June read more
SoR welcomes NHS pay award and confirms member consultation (23 May) – Radiographers in England have been offered a 3.6 per cent pay increase, on the back of last week’s confirmation of Scottish NHS pay increase read more
BMA
Ballot open: cast your vote on industrial action (10 June) – Resident doctors believe the Government’s remuneration proposal does not address call for pay restoration. A BMA ballot to decide whether to take industrial action in pursuit of pay restoration is open. If returned with a ‘yes’ vote, a mandate for industrial action would last from July 2025 to January 2026. The vote comes after health secretary Wes Streeting failed to make a commitment on restoring pay levels during a meeting with BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs Melissa Ryan and Ross Nieuwoudt. RDC announced on 9 April it was re-entering its dispute on pay with the Government, following the delays in the publication of The Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration recommendations. In reaction to the ballot opening, health secretary Wes Streeting posted a four-minute video and sent, via NHS England, a letter to resident doctors asking them to ‘vote no’ read more
BMA statement on trade union freedoms (7 June) – The BMA is urging the House of Lords to support Amendment 240 to the Employment Rights Bill when it is further debated next week. We already have the support of several other trade unions representing public and private sector workers. The amendment would make secondary industrial action legal and, the BMA believes is an important step in restoring fundamental trade union freedoms. We believe the current legal restrictions limit workers’ ability to collectively challenge unfair conditions – particularly in an increasingly fragmented and outsourced employment landscape read more
NEU
Spending review (11 June) – Commenting on the Chancellor’s speech to the Commons, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Assuming the OBR’s projections are correct, the Chancellor has announced the first increase in schools’ spending power since 2019. Schools should have about the same amount as when Boris Johnson left office, but this is still a long way short of where it was in 2010. We are concerned this may not be enough to fix some of the fundamental problems facing schools…” read more
Maintained nursery schools struggling to cover costs (9 June) – Commenting on a survey by Early Education showing that more than half of England’s maintained nursery schools struggle to cover core costs, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The long-term future of Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) should concern us all…” read more
National Education Union calls for a wealth tax to fund schools (9 June) – A week before the Comprehensive Spending Review, the National Education Union (NEU) has joined with Tax Justice UK to call for progressive tax reforms to be introduced by the Chancellor which could provide greater funding for schools. The NEU is backing three proposals from Tax Justice UK as to how this funding could be found through closing unfair loopholes and introducing achievable, credible tax reforms. All of these would make the UK a more equal society and bring investment into our public services read more
NFER on ethnic disparities in teaching workforce (9 June) – Commenting on Ethnic disparities in entry to teacher training, teacher retention and progression to leadership, a new report from the NFER, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “This valuable research further illuminates the ethnic disparities in teacher recruitment, retention and progression previously highlighted in research by the NEU and others. Systemic racism across workplaces, including stereotypical assumptions, bullying and discriminatory pay and progression practices, is contributing to the national teacher recruitment and retention crisis. Many Black and ethnic minority teachers are now missing from the system due to these stubborn failings…” read more
Schools to face a £630 million cut in funding next year (7 June) – New research released today by the School Cuts coalition shows that cuts to education funding next year would be the equivalent of salaries for 12,400 school staff – 5,700 teachers and 6,700 support staff. This follows the publication of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) report and the announcement of a 4 per cent pay award for teachers next year, which will only be funded to 3 per cent. The gap in funding will mean that the vast majority of schools – 75 per cent of primary schools and 92 per cent of secondary schools – will be forced to make cuts next year. The average primary school will see a cut in spending power of 1.1 per cent and the average secondary school will see a cut of 1.2 per cent. In total there will be a £630 million real terms cut to school funding. This puts at risk the Government’s commitment to recruit 6,500 more teachers read more
Sixth Form College indicative ballot launched on pay (6 June) – National Education Union members who teach in sixth form colleges will on Monday 9 June commence an indicative ballot in support of their 2025/26 pay claim, which calls for an above-inflation pay rise that constitutes a meaningful step towards real-terms pay restoration as well as a number of workload commitments. Should the ballot be successful and the claim not be met by the Sixth Form College Association (SFCA), then this would be followed by a formal ballot for strike action in the Autumn. Members across 75 colleges will be balloted read more
Teacher pay announcement (22 May) – Commenting on the teacher pay announcement for September, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is testament to the strength of feeling in the profession that government have moved from their initial recommendation of a 2.8% pay rise to the 4% announced today. Whilst we acknowledge and welcome additional funding to that initially offered by government, it is still the case that the pay award is not fully funded. In many schools this will mean cuts in service provision to children and young people, job losses, and additional workloads for an already overstretched profession. The NEU will never accept cuts to education. Children deserve a fully-resourced education and government should see education as an investment in the country’s future not a cost…” read more
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NASUWT
4% pay award for Wales teachers is progress but not pay restoration, says NASUWT (11 June) – Commenting on the publication of the IWPRB Report 2025’s recommendation to uplift teacher pay by 4.8%, and the government’s announcement that they will offer teachers a 4% pay increase, Matt Wrack, Acting General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said: “NASUWT Cymru will need to talk our members. The decision to fully fund pay will be welcome, although we will need to assess what this means in reality in schools. Considering the scale of the recruitment and retention crisis for teachers in Wales, it is alarming that the government is refusing to fully implement the findings of the IWPRB, which has recommended an increase of 4.8%…” read more
Teachers strike at OGAT schools over planned increase to school day (2 June) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at five secondary schools run by the Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) are to take strike action over plans to increase the length of the school day and the resultant impact on teachers’ working hours, workload and the welfare of staff and pupils. Members at OGAT Hindley in Wigan, OGAT Foxhills in Scunthorpe and OGAT Easingwold in York will begin six days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday). Members at OGAT Portland and OGAT Valley, both in Worksop, will begin five days of strike action on Tuesday 10th June. OGAT is planning to increase the length of the school day and teaching contact by 30 minutes per day from September 2025 onwards read more
Glodwick teachers strike over years of mistreatment (22 May) – On Thursday 22nd May, members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union will begin strike action at Glodwick Infant and Nursery School in Oldham due to continuous issues with health and safety, and mistreatment of staff. Further strike days are planned on 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11 and 12 June. For years, teachers at Glodwick have endured a lack of action from school leadership over health and safety risks onsite. It is becoming increasingly difficult for teachers to report and mitigate these risks as leadership is not responding in an appropriate manner. Two months ago, the teachers took the difficult decision to escalate their concerns to Oldham Local Authority. Last week, it seemed that progress had finally been made, with Oldham promising to put measures in place to mitigate risks and protect teachers. But Oldham have reneged on the deal, leaving teachers vulnerable to persistent intimidation and bullying from senior leaders. They have no choice but to take industrial action read more
NASUWT responds to STRB report (22 May) – Responding to the publication of the STRB report, Matt Wrack, Acting General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union said: “Teachers have been waiting for this announcement and it is welcome that the Government has published the report and its response early enough for the award to be applied from September. We also welcome that the STRB recommendation has recognised the need to increase pay by more than the 2.8% the Government proposed in its evidence and that this has been accepted. Teachers in the NASUWT will be wanting to assess the details and the Union will be carefully considering the implications of today’s announcement…” read more
LIPA teachers strike over critical management failure (19 May) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at LIPA School in Liverpool will begin strike action this week after leadership failed to deal with a number of concerns related to health and safety, adverse management practices, and dangerous pupil behaviour. While NASUWT representatives have met with leaders at the school, no progress has been made. LIPA Multi Academy Trust does not appear to recognise trade unions read more
Westbourne Academy teachers strike over constant disruptive behaviour (12 May) – NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union members at Westbourne Academy in Ipswich will begin strike action on Tuesday 13th May due to untenable levels of classroom disruption. A large group of pupils at Westbourne Academy are refusing to attend lessons and instead choose to roam the school, disrupting other lessons and engaging in threatening behaviour towards staff and other pupils. Teachers have sought help from school leadership but no plan has worked in practice, with teachers often waiting for most or all of their lessons for urgent assistance read more
Epsom teachers strike to protect pensions (6 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Ewell Castle Senior and Prep Schools in Epsom are starting the first of seven days of planned strike action tomorrow (Wednesday) after being threatened with dismissal from their jobs unless they agree to new contracts that would leave them worse off in retirement. The Employer is seeking to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and impose inferior pension arrangements on teachers which would adversely affect their future financial security. Teachers have been threatened with fire and rehire if they do not agree to sign new contracts amending their pension entitlements read more
EIS
EIS AGM: General Secretary Urges Delivery of Workload Commitments as Ballot Opens (6 June) – The General Secretary of the EIS, has laid down a challenge to the Scottish Government and COSLA to deliver commitments to tackle teacher workload by reducing class contact time, as she launched a consultative ballot for strike action during her address to the EIS AGM in Aviemore read more
EIS AGM: EIS Launches Consultative Strike Ballot Over Workload (5 June) – The EIS opens a consultative industrial action ballot over teacher workload. The ballot will be launched on Friday afternoon by General Secretary Andrea Bradley during her keynote address to the EIS Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Aviemore read more
EIS Members at Robert Gordon University escalate strike action as compulsory redundancy dispute continues (28 May) – Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers’ Association at Robert Gordon University are set to take their fourth and fifth days of strike action on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th May, intensifying their ongoing dispute with University management over planned compulsory redundancies. This escalation underscores the deep-seated concerns of staff regarding job security and the potential detrimental impact on the quality of education and research at RGU read more
EIS to consult members on industrial action in teacher class contact dispute (9 May) – The national Council of the EIS has today agreed to open a consultative industrial action ballot of its members, as a dispute over teacher class contact time intensifies. A formal dispute was declared three months ago, as a result of the failure of government and employers to deliver any progress towards the Scottish Government’s 2021 manifesto commitment to address longstanding issues with teacher workload by reducing teachers’ maximum class contact time to 21 hours per week. With no proposals forthcoming from the Scottish Government and local authorities on the delivery of this commitment, the EIS will now move to ballot its members and seek their views on industrial action in pursuit of a resolution to the dispute read more
UCU
UCU Stop the Cuts campaign
Sign petition against the education cuts
UCU comment on Education Committee inquiry into university finances (12 June) – Responding to the Commons Education Select Committee’s announcement that it will be looking into the financial viability of universities, UCU general secretary Jo Grady today said: ‘With vice-chancellors axing courses, limiting student provision and slashing thousands of jobs, universities are in crisis and this inquiry couldn’t come soon enough…” read more
UCU responds to spending review (11 June) – Responding to today’s spending review, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘While additional science and technology research funding is welcome, it is long overdue and will do little to avert the wider crisis in our universities…” read more
Newcastle University strike rally to be held amid fresh strike action (10 June) – University and College Union (UCU) members from across the UK will descend on Newcastle tomorrow to demonstrate against the hundreds of jobs Newcastle University is cutting. The rally comes as Newcastle staff begin their 37th day of strike action tomorrow morning over management’s threat to start forcing staff out, beginning next month (Thursday 31 July) read more
University of Lincoln staff vote for strike action (9 June) – Staff at the University of Lincoln have voted to take industrial action in a dispute over plans to threaten nearly 300 staff with redundancy, the University and College Union has announced today. An overwhelming 86% of UCU members who voted backed strike action in a ballot that had a turnout of 61%. The dispute is over the announcement by the university to threaten up to 285 staff with redundancy, having previously told UCU that were no plans for large-scale cuts. This comes after 220 staff already lost their jobs through voluntary severance and redundancy last year read more
Four days of strike action begins at Bournemouth University this week (9 June) – Staff at Bournemouth University will strike on Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 June, in opposition to management plans to cut over 100 academic staff, UCU announced today. The walkout follows an overwhelming 75% yes vote in favour of strike action with 91% backing action short of strike on a turnout of 78%. There will be pickets across multiple campuses on the strike dates. The dispute is over plans to cut 116 academic staff next month (by Thursday 31 July). Bournemouth leaders claim they need to make £20m cuts due to a fall in student numbers. This would see 15 courses permanently closed, including undergraduate degrees in English, politics and anthropology. Overall, including academic and professional services staff, the university is planning to slash more than 200 jobs read more
Three days of strikes to hit Havant & South Downs College (6 June) – Staff at Havant & South Downs College (HSDC) will strike on Friday 13, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 June over plans to cut the jobs of around one third of the workforce, UCU announced today. The Principal and Chief Executive, Mike Gaston, announced his retirement this week, and this follows the announcement of formal intervention in the running of the college. The college is based over three sites, Alton, Havant and South Downs and staff will be picketing all three from 8am to 10am each day. The walkout follows a ballot of UCU members, in which 64% backed strike action on a turnout of 61%. National Education Union (NEU) members will also be joining the action. The dispute is over management’s plans to axe around one in three staff by the end of the month due to a financial crisis of its making. The college claims it needs to cut £3.7m from its budget and wants to cut staff by 29% at Alton, 30% at Havant and 33% at South Downs. The Department for Education has intervened in the management of the college, issuing a Financial Notice to Improve and demanding additional oversight from the Further Education Commissioner. College management has offered talks with UCU and NEU next week about how the strike can be avoided and the trade dispute resolved read more
Strike dates set at Edinburgh University in dispute over cuts and job losses (5 June) – Members of UCU Scotland at the University of Edinburgh will take strike action on Friday 20 June, and then for a further five days at the start of the new academic year in September. The dispute is over university senior management’s plans to cut £140million from the university’s budget and the refusal to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies to cut staff numbers. Staff will also take part in action short of strike, including working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, not undertaking voluntary activities and a boycott of administrative work related to implementing the cuts. The union said it was also considering a marking and assessment boycott of students’ work as well as members refusing to use personal devices for work purposes, but that, for now, this is being held back in the hope that the university senior management will agree to rule out compulsory redundancies and end the dispute. The strike dates were announced following a ballot of all members of the union, with 84% of members voting to back strike action. 93% of members voted to back action short of strike. Both ballots had a turnout of 60%, easily beating the mandate required by trade union legislation. The union said that the cuts would be the largest ever made by a university in Scotland and argued that the university had failed to make the case for cuts of this size while planning record capital expenditure on buildings and infrastructure read more
Overwhelming vote for strike action at University of Bradford (28 May) – Staff at the University of Bradford have voted to strike in huge numbers over plans to slash £16m from the budget in cuts that will see hundreds of jobs go and multiple courses close, announced the University and College Union (UCU). An overwhelming 82% of UCU members who voted back strike action in a ballot that had a turnout of 57%. The dispute is over the £16m of cuts management wants to force through. Members will meet tomorrow to decide upon next steps but strike action and action short of strike could begin as soon as 12 June unless management rules out compulsory redundancies read more
University of Dundee compulsory redundancy plans result in new wave of strikes (27 May) – University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Dundee today, Monday 26th May. begin a further five days of strike action over threatened job losses and staff facing compulsory redundancy. The strike follows 15 days of strikes in February and March. Since then, university senior management, in the face of continued industrial action and criticism from the Scottish Government and local politicians, backtracked on their original plans to cut 700 jobs. Management initially accepted Scottish Government advice, announcing a reduced figure of 300 job losses through a voluntary redundancy process. But the employer is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies and redundancy consultations are well under way in both the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) and the Educational Assistive Technology Team (EduAT) at the university read more
University union lays ground for its first ever strike ballot against Labour (26 May) – Delegates at the University and College Union’s (UCU) annual Congress have overwhelmingly voted to prepare for an industrial dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over university funding, the first step towards a potential strike ballot, announced the union today (Monday 26 May) read more
UCU Congress votes for England-wide college strike ballot over low pay (25 May) – Members of the University and College Union (UCU) attending the union’s Congress (UCU) today (Sunday 25 May) voted to ballot staff at further education colleges across England for strike action. UCU has already launched a consultative ballot, which closes on Friday 20 June, to lay the ground for a strike ballot to open in Autumn. The union is demanding a new deal for further education workers, including a 10% pay rise, parity with schoolteachers, national bargaining and nationally agreed workloads read more
Union vows to fight cuts at Liverpool Hope (21 May) – Liverpool Hope University intends to axe 39 staff before the end of the year, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. The threatened cuts will fall on the faculties of education and social sciences, creative arts and humanities, and human and digital sciences with courses including sociology, education studies and health science being hit. Management claims it needs to make the cuts due to a its own predicted deficit, with staff set to go as soon as November (2025). Despite the cuts to front line staff, the university has healthy cash reserves and its vice-chancellor takes home a total package worth over £300k. If the university refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies by Friday 23 May, UCU will enter into a formal industrial dispute, which is the first step towards a possible strike ballot and disruption on campus read more
Strike ballot opens at Kingston University over cuts & course closures (19 May) – Over 300 staff at Kingston University will be asked to vote yes to strike action in a ballot that will open tomorrow. The dispute is over a £20m cuts programme that university management is forcing through, including the closure of the humanities department alongside courses in the department of criminology, sociology and politics. The university has already tried to get staff out the door through a voluntary severance scheme. UCU fears compulsory redundancy is also on the cards and that a further nine departments are at risk. Management pulled out of talks aimed at resolving the dispute and refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies despite its £7m surplus (23/24) and the over £400m it holds in reserves 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 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
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
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
Zane’s Law Summit at Westminster: “Make toxic landfills safe!” (12 June) – Campaigners calling for ‘Zane’s Law’, to protect communities from contaminated land, held a summit at the Houses of Parliament on the 11 June. The proposed law would improve transparency around historic landfill sites and clarify who is responsible for making these safe. It is named after seven-year-old Zane Gbangbola, who died on 8 February 2014 when floodwater passed through landfill into the basement of his family’s home in Chertsey. His father, Kye Gbangbola, was left paralysed by the same incident read more
Fire Brigades Union leader responds to spending review: “Labour must break with austerity” (11 June) – Today, Rachel Reeves has set out budgets for government departments in the Spending Review 2025. Commenting on the Spending Review, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright said: The Spending Review must represent the end of the austerity era. The fire service has been battered by nearly 15 years of Tory cuts that have left it ill equipped to tackle the impact of climate change like wildfires and flooding, as well as keeping the public safe day in and day-out. Firefighters have been at the sharp end of this austerity and faced real terms cuts to their pay for nearly a decade and a half. The Spending Review must be a dramatic departure from that disastrous approach. The Spending Review must be the relaunch of the Labour government, which has to deliver substantial funding for public services, pay workers properly and fund a generous welfare state…” 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 May 2025 read here
NEC minutes May 2025 read more
Parliament petition for reducing retirement age (12 June) – I am an officer and POA member at HMP Frankland. I was left horrified and upset by the attack on my friends and colleagues on 12th April 2025. I, like many people, came to the decision that enough is enough, and it is time for change for the better where prison safety and the welfare of staff is concerned. I decided to start a Parliament petition to reduce the minimum retirement age to 60 read more
Prison officers association responds to government announcement on body armour (4 June) – POA Deputy General Secretary, Mick Pimblett, said: “Our Prison staff work in some of the most hostile workplaces in Western Europe, which is why the POA has long called for better protective equipment for our members…” read more
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 submit 2025 Pay Claim to Cafcass (4 June) – The attached joint pay claim has been submitted to the employer by Napo and UNISON this week. We are seeking on behalf of our members: Either a 6% rise or a flat rate of £3,500 whichever is higher read more
Our position on Probation pay (23 May) – Members will have seen yesterday’s pay announcement on the intranet about the Prison Service Pay Review Body and the publication of the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance and, in case needed, we wanted to make clear the current position for staff subject to Probation Service terms and conditions. The recommendations of the Prison Service Pay Review Body do not apply to Probation Service staff who are subject to different terms and conditions as well as a separate pay process read more
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
Pre Conference Foodworker 2025
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
BALPA
BALPA response to Air India plane crash (12 June) – Responding to news of the tragic Air India crash today, Amy Leversidge, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), said: “Pilots around the globe are deeply saddened by this news. Members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association send condolences to all those affected. It is vital a full and thorough investigation is now carried out without interference or unhelpful speculation about the contributory factors so that future tragedies can be avoided.” Read more
Nautilus International
Sanitary win welcomed for female seafarers under MLC (11 June) – Years of campaigning for sanitary products by Nautilus, its female members and other maritime organisations have resulted in a win for women onboard read more
Seafarer rights strengthened with MLC ratification (9 June) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) has adopted a new set of amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC), marking a significant step forward in safeguarding the rights and welfare of seafarers. The changes to what is known informally as the ‘seafarers’ bill of rights’ were approved by a strong majority at the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2025, and will come into force in December 2027 read more
NUJ
Share your views: UK government’s proposed disability welfare cuts (12 June) – The union is seeking member views to help inform our response to government’s “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working” Green Paper read more
Save Quality Journalism Education (11 June) – NUJ backs NCTJ campaign urging the reversal of planned cuts to journalism course funding read more
NUJ condemns arrest of journalists Yanis Mhamdi and Omar Faiad by Israeli authorities (10 June) – The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in condemning the Israeli army’s arrest of journalists Yanis Mhamdi and Omar Faiad read more
Man sentenced for harassment of women journalists (6 June) – The NUJ has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Mark McAnaw over the harassment of Sunday World journalists Amanda Brunker, Deirdre Reynolds and Nicola Tallant read more
Hong Kong: independent journalists targeted with arbitrary audits (6 June) – The NUJ has joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in calling on Hong Kong authorities to uphold journalists’ right to report without fear of reprisals read more
Palestine: 170 journalists and media workers killed since the start of the war (6 June) – The death toll of Palestinian journalists has risen following a targeted Israeli attack. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in condemning the killing of Suleiman Hajjaj, Ismail Badah and Samir Al-Rifai following an Israeli attack targeting journalists. Journalists had been in the courtyard of Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City read more
Egypt: NUJ joins IFJ in calling for the release of 22 imprisoned journalists (6 June) – The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate has published the names of journalists detained in the country. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in urging the release of all jailed journalists in Egypt, many of whom are being held under extended pre-trial detention read more
NUJ statement on the detention of BBC journalists at gunpoint by the Israel Defense Forces (5 June) – The union has condemned the shocking treatment of journalists including strip searches and interrogations by the IDF. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the detention of Feras Kilani, BBC News Arabic correspondent alongside three other members of staff and three freelance colleagues held at gunpoint for seven hours by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Southern Syria on 9 May read more
Honduras: Journalist Javier Antonio Salinas murdered (4 June) – Calls for investigation into why state protected reporter was killed. Local reporter Javier Antonio Salinas has been killed in Honduras, despite reportedly being under a protection scheme read more
Vote of no confidence in PA Media editor-in-chief Jack Lefley over restructuring plans (29 May) – NUJ chapel also reveals indicative vote in favour of strike action. NUJ members at PA Media have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion of no confidence in the leadership of the veteran company’s editor-in-chief Jack Lefley. It follows an indicative ballot strongly in favour of strike action, and overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action short of a strike, if management continues its restructuring plans – which the chapel has described as a “destructive course of action.” After four months in post, Lefley announced a plan to restructure the editorial department, putting 74 editorial staff at proposed risk of redundancy with the loss of up to 25 jobs read more
Equity
Equity applauds SAG-AFTRA video games breakthrough (12 June) – Equity calls on games producers to enter negotiations for a UK agreement following US deal read more
Spending Review shows government “confused about the arts” (11 June) – Real terms cuts announced to culture department read more
“No gig too small” for a union contract: Equity and Chisenhale Dance Space sign agreement for scratch nights (10 June) – Equity has signed a new agreement with Chisenhale Dance Space, guaranteeing decent terms and conditions for performers in the company’s “Scratch Renaissance” series read more
Equity calls for “urgent action” on AI following new report launched at SXSW (6 June) – Equity is calling for “urgent action” on AI following a new report launched this week at which calls for the ‘preservation of human originality’ and ‘ongoing impact assessments’, following the input of Equity members read more
Equity secures unions backing for campaign against disability cuts (4 June) – An emergency motion from Equity has been passed unanimously at the TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference to publicly endorse and support the Taking The PIP campaign read more
Musicians Union
Increased Money for the Creative Industries in Government Spending Review (12 June) – Yesterday Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves set out her Comprehensive Spending Review. Having lobbied the Government for additional money for music, it was positive to see the Government announce a “significant increase in funding for the creative industries” as a key “growth sector” read more
MU Reaffirms Support for Trans Musicians Amid Legal Definition Ruling (12 June) – The MU stands in solidarity with our trans members following the Supreme Court ruling about the definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010 read more
MU Welcomes Cardiff Music School’s Decision to Remain Open and Urges More Support for Arts in Higher Education (4 June) – Proposals to close the School of Music at Cardiff University won’t go ahead, but further work is needed on the detailed plans and culture across Wales read more
Welsh Government to Fund National Music Service for a Further Three Years (4 June) – The MU welcomes the news, although funding levels still aren’t sufficient to meet the Welsh Government’s ambitions for music education read more
MU Demands Industry and Government Take Action Against Persistent Misogyny in Music (4 June) – The MU fully backs the latest Misogyny in Music report which, one year on from the original, again urges government and industry to take action— with 11 new recommendations to tackle harassment, unequal pay, bullying, and discrimination faced by women across the music sector read more
Community
Spending Review (11 June) – Responding to today’s Spending Review, Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE said: “Today’s Spending Review demonstrates that the Labour government is serious about initiating a programme of national renewal and driving growth right across the nations and regions of the UK…” read more
USDAW
Poundland sold with a plan to restructure the business – Usdaw seeks urgent talks with the company and new owners (12 June) – Retail trade union Usdaw represents members working for discount retailer Poundland and is seeking urgent talks after the business announced a new owner, with an intention to implement a turnaround plan. Poundland today announced its sale to Gordon Brothers, who have entered into a definitive agreement with Pepco Group to purchase the business read more
Usdaw welcomes significant investment in policing to help protect our communities and high streets (11 June) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the choices that the Chancellor has today made in the Government’s Spending Review read more
Winter Fuel Payments Reinstated: Usdaw welcomes the Chancellor reinstating the benefit to most pensioners this winter (9 June) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed Rachel Reeves announcing today that nine million pensioners in England and Wales will receive the winter fuel payment this winter. The payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners read more
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
UVW security guards at London’s top museums secure major pay rises after sustained strike action (12 June) – “Since we organised with UVW and stood up for ourselves, they’ve had to listen.” – Geoffrey, security supervisor and UVW member Security guards at London’s top museums — the Natural History, Science, and Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museums — have won significant pay rises ranging from 13% to 23% after months of determined strike action and union organising with United Voices of the World (UVW). In just seven months, the guards won more than they had in the entire previous decade — with increases adding thousands of pounds annually to their salaries depending on seniority.
Since declaring a dispute in August 2024, the outsourced guards took over 50 days of strike action, including nearly daily walkouts in February, alongside high-profile pressure campaigns targeting their employer, security contractor Wilson James, and the museums themselves. The strike action also included visits to museum trustees’ offices, pushing the powerful institutions to take notice read more
Crisis at Solace Women’s Aid: Barnet and Tower Hamlets Support Workers set to strike (11 June) – “We are calling for a healthier work environment—for ourselves and for the survivors we support—and a real say at work through our union, UVW.” Domestic violence advisors at Solace Women’s Aid charity in Barnet have opened a strike ballot in response to unmanageable workloads and chronic understaffing. Meanwhile, their counterparts in Tower Hamlets are also poised to strike, with a separate ballot still live, following the charity’s backtracking on a promise to voluntarily recognise their union. Both groups are members of United Voices of the World (UVW). The dispute now spans two critical Solace teams in the UK’s fight against domestic violence read more
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 was 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
IWGB
CITY CLEANERS STRIKE: ROUND 2! – Outsourced cleaning staff at City University have just announced they will STRIKE AGAIN, from 22nd to 24th May. Join them at their strike rally on Thurs 23rd May at 12pm, outside City University (Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB)! Follow @IWGBUoL on X/Twitter
Mandate (Ireland)
Raise The Roof Demonstrations on 17th and 21st June (29 May) – Mandate is calling on its members to support two Housing Protests planned for next month under the Raise The Roof banner, a trade and civil union-led campaign on housing.
- Dublin – Tuesday 17th June: Rally outside of the Dail at 6pm to coincide with cross party PMB on Housing
- Cork – Saturday 21st June: March and Rally in Cork City, from National Monument, Grand Parade to the Opera House, commencing at 2pm
Irish workers need a new deal on housing. Please support the campaign. More details to follow read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU members in Eli Lilly secure Labour Court recommendation on union representation (11 June) – SIPTU members employed at the Eli Lilly plant in Kinsale, County Cork, have secured a Labour Court recommendation stating that their employer should allow them the right to individual and collective representation by their trade union in workplace disputes read more
Unions seek management meeting prior to referring Tara Deep dispute to WRC (9 June) – Tara Mines Group of Unions has written to management requesting an urgent meeting to discuss its failure to commence work on the Tara Deep project in-line with the agreement which resulted in the mine’s operations recommencing last year read more
Bord na Móna Recycling workers reject WRC proposal by 61% to 39% (6 June) – SIPTU members employed at Bord na Móna Recycling have rejected (61% to 39%) a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposal aimed at resolving the protracted privatisation dispute. The workers will now serve notice of strike action on the company read more
SIPTU demands an end to the failed policy of for-profit elder care (5 June) – SIPTU representatives have demanded immediate and swift action from Government to ensure safe staffing levels are implemented across the private nursing home sector without delay. The call comes following the shocking RTÉ Investigates programme last night that has left many working in the sector completed shattered and angry over the way older people have been treated read more
Industrial action at AbbVie plant in Cork in pay and collective bargaining dispute (30 May) – A work-to-rule industrial action in the AbbVie manufacturing facility in Carrigtwohill, County Cork began on 19th May in a dispute concerning pay and anti-union practices being implemented by the pharmaceutical manufacture read more
Other news
From SHAC (Social Housing Action Campaign) – 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 central London demo is on Saturday 21st June at 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)
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
Support Berlin hospital strike – support a strike that has been going on for several weeks at CFM, the outsourced facility management company of Charité, one of the largest and best-known university hospitals in Europe. CFM colleagues earn much less than their directly employed colleagues who were not outsourced, even though their work as non-medical staff keeps the hospital running. They are demanding reintegration into the regular workforce, equal pay for equal work and the same collective wage agreement as the public sector so that they can fight together. This is an important dispute in which we have repeatedly been involved since the start of the outsourcing process (2006) and the fight against it. We therefore ask you to send us messages of solidarity for the strike so that we can pass them on to the colleagues. We have already been able to read out and distribute several statements of solidarity from other sectors and other cities, which has greatly motivated and strengthened the strikers. You can find a short English article here: https://www.socialistworld.net/2025/05/29/call-for-international-solidarity-with-striking-berlin-workers/. Please send your messages of solidarity to: [email protected]
Appeal for support for two victimised Mass Art (Massachusetts College of Art and Design) workers over their participation in a rally over Gaza. This is part of the current nationwide crackdown on opposition, especially in educational bodies, which the Trump administration is demanding. Please send copies of any messages of support to [email protected].
Sign the petition if you haven’t already. Share widely! https://chng.it/9JcTZ8QBcr
Call and email MassArt administration:
MassArt President Mary Grant (617) 879-7077
Like, share, and comment on the Instagram post by Massachusetts Teachers Association Rank and File for Palestine (MTA RF4P) calling to defend our right to protest against genocide and for us to be taken off leave and not disciplined: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJeVFBlxh9b/?igsh=MXRobzA2cjk4dTE3aQ==
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
June
14 Orgreave Anniversary march and rally – Assemble 1pm City Hall, Barkers Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA details
29 Unions East Community Festival 1pm-5pm Coronation Gardens, Leyton E10 Facebook event
July
5 NSSN Annual Conference 2025 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall London
12 Durham Miners Gala details
18–20 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival details
26 Troublemakers At Work conference central Manchester read more
September
7 NSSN TUC Congress lobby & rally 1pm Brighton
