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
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, such as such as the Unite bin workers in Birmingham and Sheffield, and the Unison Gloucestershire phlebotomists and building solidarity and support for their disputes. 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. 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
If you would like to put yourself forward for the NSSN steering committee or your organisation would like a stall at the NSSN Conference, let us know by email us via [email protected].
Download and distribute our new Workplace Report
Affiliate your union branch/trades council to NSSN (£50).
Renew/donate online (HSBC: 40-06-41, 90143790)
Cheque (NSSN, 16 Warren Rd, London E10 5QA).
Contact us: email – [email protected].
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.
Just five per cent of Birmingham residents likely or very likely to vote Labour in next year’s local elections (23 June) – Just five per cent of Birmingham residents likely or very likely to vote Labour in next year’s local elections. New polling shows Labour is set to lose Birmingham council at next year’s local elections due to its handling of the bin strike and its attempts to force ruinous pay cuts of up to £8,000 on refuse workers. The independent survey of 900 residents by Find Out Now found that just five per cent were likely or very likely to vote Labour. Nearly half (47 per cent) were very unlikely to vote Labour and 12 per cent were unlikely to vote Labour. The survey, which was weighted for representation, also asked residents if the council’s handling of the bin strike made them more or less likely to vote Labour in the next local elections. Over half (56 per cent) were less likely to vote Labour, with just four per cent more likely. Asked how they felt about council leader John Cotton not attending any of the negotiations to end the bin strikes, 62 per cent disapproved with just three per cent approving. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is little wonder that workers in Birmingham are now turning away from Labour in droves, with a Labour council leader and a Labour government expecting bin workers to take a pay cuts of up to £8,000. For many this means that their homes are at risk 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/
- Join the MegaPicket2 (hosted by Strike Map) – 25th July details
Twenty-five unions sign open letter calling on government and Birmingham Council to end bin strike read more in Morning Star
Unite Sheffield Bin strike – Wednesday 9th July:Mass Picket 6am Lumley St Depot; Demo at Sheffield Town Hall 12.30pm for Council Meeting at 2pm
Unite: Strikes at Veolia in Sheffield set to continue as company refuses to negotiate (26 June) – Fresh ballot from union shows strong support for continuing industrial action read more. Strikes at union-busting firm Veolia are set to continue in Sheffield following the latest successful ballot of workers at the Lumley Street depot read more
Unison Gloucestershire phlebotomists strike – 100 days strike rally: 10 am to 2 pm on Friday 4th July
The phlebotomists who take blood from patients at Cheltenham and Gloucester hospitals and are on strike for fair pay have been ignored, underpaid and dismissed. They’re inviting trade unionists, colleagues and supporters to stand with them on their 100th day of action. Come and join them outside Shire Hall from 10 am to 2 pm on Friday 4th July 2025. They’ll have speakers from TUC South West, UNISON, FBU and more. The Stroud Red Band will also be performing. Their rally needs your support! Bring your banners, your branches and your solidarity! Read more.
Picketing and plan of action for the 16th week:
Monday 30th: Joint picket at Gloucester Royal Hospital from 07:30 to 12:00.
Tuesday 1st July: Joint picket at Cheltenham General Hospital from 07.30 to 12:00.
Wednesday 2nd July: Joint picket at Gloucester Royal Hospital from 07:30 to 12:00.
Thursday 3rd July: Joint picket at Cheltenham General Hospital from 07.30 to 12:00.
Friday 4th July: 100th day of action outside Gloucestershire Royal Hospital from 10:00 to 14:00 on Friday 4th July 2025. They’ll be speakers from TUC South West, UNISON, FBU and more. The Stroud Red Band will also be performing. Their rally needs your support! Bring your banners, your branches and your solidarity!
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
Fight the disability welfare cuts – read the NSSN Special
NSSN activists include many disabled members and strongly encourages working with DPAC to organise against the welfare cuts.
Sign Trade Unionists Against the Benefit Cuts Open Letter
DPAC: June 30th and July 1st – protest the Green Paper. Protest the disability cuts.
Disabled People Against Cuts and allies are organising a mass Protest of Parliament at 4.30pm on June 30th and a national day of action on July 1st, with activities in local areas on the day when the second reading of the bill will occur. Starmer has been forced back, but the fight continues against any rotten compromise. #BinTheBill
More details on the DPAC website and Facebook page.
Email [email protected] if you are able to arrange a local protest on July 3rd.
Unions’ statements on the Labour Government’s Welfare Bill ASLEF, TSSA, PCS, FBU, Unite, Unison
Ben Golightly from Swansea DPAC will be speaking at the 2025 NSSN Annual Conference on Saturday 5th July in London.
Union News
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RMT
New legal powers needed to stop another P&O Ferries scandal (25 June) – Seafarers’ union RMT today demanded urgent action from the Government to ensure unions can take pre-emptive legal action against law-breaking employers before they carry out mass sackings like those seen at P&O Ferries. The union is calling for the introduction of a pre-emptive injunctive relief power, allowing unions to stop rogue employers in the courts before they axe unionised crews and replace them with agency labour on poverty pay and exploitative rotas. Speaking on the Day of the Seafarer – an International Maritime Organisation event, celebrating the invaluable contribution of seafarers to global trade and the world economy, General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “The unlawful actions of P&O Ferries in sacking 800 seafarers with zero warning and replacing them with cheap labour shocked the country but the law still does not stop another company from doing exactly the same thing read more
Unions call for public ownership of MerseyRail (25 June) – Rail unions, RMT, Aslef and TSSA have written a joint letter to Liverpool City Region transport committee and Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham, urging public ownership of MerseyRail read more
Over 75% of transport workers ready to take industrial action over staff assaults, warns RMT (23 June) – More than three-quarters of frontline public transport workers say they are ready to take industrial action if employers continue to fail in protecting them from the escalating violence and abuse, RMT has revealed today. The union’s latest survey of over 6,000 members across rail, bus, metro, maritime and underground sectors found that 63% experienced workplace violence in the past year, and over 85% of them were assaulted multiple times. The majority of cases involved verbal abuse, with many also facing threats, physical assaults, and harassment including racist and sexist abuse. Notably, 61% of the most serious incidents occurred during lone working. The union has also cited British Transport Police figures showing a 47% rise in violence and serious public order offences against rail staff between 2021 and 2024, alongside a 5% year-on-year increase in work-related violence and aggression on the TfL network read more
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
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 Statement on Welfare Cuts (25 June) – This legislation will impact the most vulnerable in our society, pushing hundreds of thousands of people into poverty, people who have already experienced 14 years of the Conservative’s economic attacks. There must be real consultation on all proposed changes and proper time must be given to consider the results before a vote on any changes can take place. We urge the Government to listen to the concerns raised by Labour politicians and disabled organisations and charities and reconsider this course of
ASLEF is firmly anti-austerity. This legislation will impact the most vulnerable in our society, pushing hundreds of thousands of people into poverty, people who have already experienced 14 years of the Conservative’s economic attacks. There must be real consultation on all proposed changes and proper time must be given to consider the results before a vote on any changes can take place read more
Your union, your railway, your job and your future (19 June) – We see that democracy in action every year at AAD – our annual assembly of delegates – which was held, this year, in Durham from Monday 19 to Thursday 22 May. I am writing this at the end of a week of passionate, and thoughtful, discussion and debate as we reflected on what we have done over the last year, and looked ahead to what we want to achieve in the next 12 months. It has made me, once again, proud of the members of this union, and proud of our democracy. And proud, too, that when we disagree – which we sometimes do! – we can go for a coffee or a beer or a glass of wine afterwards and move forward, together, in a spirit of unity and solidarity 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
TSSA
TSSA urges government pause on proposed welfare reform plans (24 June) – The Labour affiliated Rail union TSSA has issued a call to the government to ‘pause and reconsider’ as Ministers face a mounting rebellion from its own MPs over plans to cut disability and sickness-related benefits payments. Ministers say they want to save £5bn a year by 2030, but the government’s official estimates show that the measures will push 250,000 people (including 50,000) children into poverty read more
New approach needed to Rail Investment Pipeline after Conservative cuts (19 June) – TSSA has told the Transport Select Committee of MPs that the ‘rail network enhancements pipeline has had its day’ because it had been used by previous Conservative governments to conceal how they were actually cutting enhancement work. In an oral evidence session to the Committee (19th June) TSSA Policy Officer, Rob Jenks, told the cross-party group of MPs that a different approach was needed which addressed the green agenda and a Swiss transport model of timetabling bus and train services to run at constant intervals. The MPs are in the process of investigating how long-term, transparent and sequenced plans – or ‘pipelines’ – could bring certainty and security to companies involved in improving the UK’s railways read more
TSSA members vote overwhelmingly for industrial action at Translink (16 June) – Hundreds of TSSA members at Northern Ireland Railways and Ulsterbus (operating as Translink) have given strong backing to industrial action in a dispute over pay – warning of a summer of major transport disruption. The union had been asking members who work in Supervisor Grades (including railway controllers) as well as Clerical, Management, Professional & Technical Grades (MPT) whether they were prepared to take strike action and action short of a strike. Ballot results which closed at midday were decisive – with both action short of a strike and walkouts given strong support. Strike action within Supervisor grades at N I Railways reached over 90 per cent in favour, with similar results in other areas – including Ulsterbus and Management grades at N I Railways with over 80 per cent support. No dates have yet been set but the union says any action taken by members raises the prospect of services being reduced or failing to run at all in the face of action taken over the summer months read more
Unite
Government Welfare plans create unfair two-tier system, Unite (28 June) – Unite calls for entire welfare bill to be dropped and for government to start again. Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned that the government’s U-turn on welfare cuts would create an unfair two-tier system and will prevent disabled people in future entering work, college and university read more
Heathrow passenger assistance strikes end with huge 12.5% pay victory (27 June) – 800 Wilson James workers celebrate Unite secured pay rise. Strikes by around 800 Heathrow workers employed by Wilson James to provide services for passengers with restricted mobility have ended following the acceptance of an improved pay deal. The workers voted to accept a 7.5 per cent pay increase backdated to January 2025, with wages increasing by a further 5 per cent in April 2026. The deal also includes a day’s extra annual leave, improved holiday booking flexibility and an industry benchmarking commitment to ensure pay remains fair and competitive well into the future. Wilson James’ managers also voted to accept a pay deal after industrial action. The deal includes a 7.5 per cent increase backdated to January, a 1.25 per cent increase in the overrate rate, enhanced sick pay, a day’s extra annual leave and free airport parking read more
Unite delivers pay win for Amcor workers in Ayrshire (27 June) – Pay uplifts rising up to 5.1 per cent. Around 100 Amcor Flexible Packaging workers in Ayrshire are set to benefit from a new pay deal Unite can confirm today (27 June). The pay agreement successfully negotiated by Unite will see pay uplifts rising up to 5.1 per cent following a review of skills and pay grades. The process is designed to help with the retention of skilled labour and rewards long service. Amcor, one of the largest employers in Ardeer, specialises in flexible packaging production, particularly for the food and agriculture industry read more
New billboards tell Starmer ‘Don’t sell us Short’ (26 June) – Campaign highlights workers’ jobs plan for Northern Ireland aerospace landmark. Government must broker a deal between Airbus and Bombardier to secure NI jobs and skills. New billboards are being rolled out across Northern Ireland this week telling Keir Starmer to back the plan for jobs developed by workers at the iconic Shorts enterprise in Northern Ireland. The plan has been developed to secure jobs and skills and avoid a carve-up of Shorts following Boeing’s acquisition of Shorts parent company Spirit and the decision by Airbus to only take over its own production lines in Belfast read more
Tata Steel: Strike set to escalate tonight as management cancels scheduled talks (26 June) – Pay freezes have left Tata workers at just over minimum wage. Unite has served Tata Steel with notice of five more days of strike action over the coming weeks following management’s decision to cancel scheduled talks on pay differentials. The next strike action follows a 48-hour stoppage last week and will take place from 21:59 hours tonight (26 June 2025) until 22.01 on 30th June 2025. There will be another one-day stoppage starting 21.59 hrs on 10 July 2025, with further strike action from 21.59 on 24 July 2025 until 22.01 on 28 July. The strike action is in addition to the continuous ban on overtime and work to rule and the discontinuous strike action as set out in Notice of Action dated 11 June 2025. The dispute surrounds the workers’ claim for restoration of pay differentials eroded as a result of pay freezes in recent years read more
Unite hails victory over pay and pensions at Veolia waste plant in Cheshire (26 June) – Workers accept new offer. All eyes back on employer in Sheffield. Unite members working at a toxic waste facility in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire are celebrating a new pay deal today (26 June) after accepting an improved offer from their employer, Veolia. Workers were due to take strike action from tomorrow (June 27) over poor pay but have now accepted a two-year deal that will see them get a four per cent pay increase in year one (backdated to 1 January) and then a further increase in year two which will be the midpoint between CPI and RPI rates of inflation. Additionally, overtime will now be paid at double time and workers will see a trial period for proposed improvements to work-life balance shift times. On pensions, workers will now receive a seven per cent employer contribution. Industrial action that had been planned for the next three days has now been cancelled read more
Unite responds to the planned closure of Sabic’s Olefins 6 facility in Teesside (25 June) – Chemical firm Sabic has today (25 June) confirmed it will close its Olefins 6 facility in Wilton, Teesside, after 46 years, with around 100 Unite members facing redundancy due to the decision. Sabic’s Olefins 6 facility – which produces the raw material ethylene – has been offline since the end of 2020 and was due to be converted to run entirely on gas feedstocks. Since it has been down, Unite members have been paid to keep the plant safe and to have it ready to come back online for future operations. The Saudi firm made a net profit of almost £300m last year. However, last month it was reported that Sabic could be looking to sell its European petrochemicals business amid high energy costs read more
Government needs to stop exaggerating about UK jobs from F-35s and commit to British built Typhoons, Unite (25 June) – 20,000 jobs on the line if government fails to back UK defence industry. Unite, the UK’s leading union, which represents tens of thousands of workers in the defence industry, is calling for urgent clarity from the government about the future of the UK’s entire fighter plane fleet, after it was revealed that the prime minister will commit to buy a dozen F-35A fighter planes read more
End to controversial director pay rises at charity Zacchaeus 2000 Trust sees strikes called off (24 June) – Upcoming industrial action at London-based anti-poverty charity Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K) has been called off as workers have won their fight against unequal pay structures. The Unite members were set to walk out from 7 to 18 July, following two weeks of continuous strike action which took place from 27 May until 6 June after Z2K revealed plans to increase the salary for directors – a senior management grade – by 25 per cent. Meanwhile lower paid staff had been given a just three per cent increase. Following Unite’s industrial action, Z2K management have now scrapped the 25 per cent increase for directors, giving them the same pay rise as other staff. Members voted to call off the July strike action as a result read more
Strike action to stop SPT Glasgow subway after interim offer rejected (24 June) – Over 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) workers to take action
Unite can confirm that strike action involving over 100 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) workers is set to bring the Glasgow subway to a stop after an interim offer was overwhelmingly rejected. Strike action is now set to take place on Wednesday (25 June), Friday (27 June) and Saturday (28 June). A continuous overtime ban has been in place from 13 June. Action was suspended on Saturday (21 June) to allow a ballot to be held on the interim offer on pay, terms and conditions. The dispute centres on the working conditions of the SPT workers as Unite believes the subway system is ‘struggling’ to operate due to chronic understaffing. Train drivers and station staff are routinely working up to 10 hours beyond contracted hours (39 hours) a week to keep the system operating without any improvements to the shift, overtime, and weekend allowances. Unite members are also repeatedly called in to work shifts at short notice leading to significant work-life pressures read more
Council workers overwhelmingly vote to reject this year’s pay offer (24 June) – Local authority workers who are members of Unite have overwhelmingly voted to reject this year’s pay offer of 3.2 per cent. Council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were offered the increase from 1 April 2025, which was tabled by national employers without any negotiation with unions. However, 84 per cent of Unite members in local authorities have rejected it in a consultative ballot. Following discussions with sister unions in the local authority sector who were consulting at the same time, Unite could now hold ballots for industrial action which could take place from late summer read more
Industrial strategy, step forward for jobs, Unite (23 June) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been working with government, along with others over many months looking at how we deal with the issue of industrial energy costs. Unite has long been pushing for the government to reduce these costs to ensure that UK industry becomes more competitive. The industrial strategy marks a first step in that process, but the government needs to go further to provide the entire manufacturing sector with the support it needs. The government still needs to tackle the long-term problems of the UK’s energy system, which requires bringing it into public ownership, starting with the National Grid. The entire industrial strategy needs to have job creation and protection clearly at the forefront of all investment decisions read more
Stagecoach West Scotland strikes over as drivers accept new pay offer (20 June) – 11.5 per cent pay uplift delivered for 430 drivers. Unite can confirm that strike action involving 430 Stagecoach West Scotland drivers is over after the drivers overwhelmingly accepted an 18-month pay deal worth 11.5 per cent on basic pay.
The pay deal amounts to an increase backdated to January which takes basic hourly pay from £13 per hour to £14 in June this year, and then from February 2026 the rate will be lifted to £14.50 until July 2026 when pay negotiations will be renewed.
Strike action has been continuous since 9 June and was scheduled to last until 21 July. The industrial dispute directly impacted Stagecoach West Scotland operations out of several depots in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan, and Kilmarnock servicing passengers across bus routes in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow read more
Stagecoach West Scotland strike action suspended after new pay offer (17 June)
TotalEnergies offshore workers win boost to jobs, pay and conditions (20 June) – Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms pay deal. Offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies have overwhelmingly backed a new pay deal successfully negotiated by Unite. Around 50 Unite members based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms agreed to an enhanced offer which amounts to a 2.25 per cent increase in basic pay alongside a five per cent increase in the offshore allowance. The overall pay package is estimated to be worth around an additional £2,500 to the offshore workers. Unite members overwhelmingly backed strike action to secure a better pay offer but this disruption has been averted following the deal. The workers undertake a number of roles on TotalEnergies platforms including skilled engineers, control room and senior operators along with mechanical, operation and production technicians read more
Unite comment on North Sea oil and gas project guidance (19 June) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is good to see some commonsense from the government on this issue, but it is still refusing to grant new licences without having a concrete plan for job losses. The government can’t expect workers and North Sea communities to let go of one rope before they can grab hold of another read more
Guys and St Thomas cardiac theatre nurses win their dispute (19 June) – Staff were being forced to “pay back” rest hours. Unite wins change of policy after strike threat. Nurses in St Thomas’ hospital cardiac surgery theatres have won a significant victory in a long running dispute over the payback of hours after being on-call. The dispute commenced in 2019 and began with nurses being accused of fraud by management after periods of compensatory rest after on-call working. The practice of paying back hours has left staff exhausted, demoralized undervalued and unsafe. Despite years of attempts by staff to resolve this it was finally won after nurses organised by Unite balloted for strike action. The union gave notice of three days of strike action on 9 April and within 48 hours management at the hospital agreed to permanently drop the compensatory hours payback and the strike was suspended. After an extended period of negotiations to agree a new policy, Unite can confirm the dispute is now fully resolved read more
Unite: Workers suffering from interest rate freeze (19 June) – Responding to today’s decision by the Bank of England to freeze interest rates, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Bank of England’s decision is wrong. High interest rates are a weight on the backs of workers. They boost lenders’ profits, while pushing up mortgages and rents, and increase the strain on our struggling industries.” Read more
Unite highlights fresh issues with Veolia as strikes come to Ellesmere Port (19 June) – Workers at toxic waste incineration plant preparing to fight for pay and pensions. Strikes ongoing in Sheffield. Unite is to begin a fresh wave of industrial action against union-busting employer Veolia as its members at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire announce strike action. Workers at a toxic waste incineration plant are fighting for pay and pensions. Workers are demanding a fair pay increase but also want to be moved onto a full staff pension to allow them to retire with dignity. Now nearly 50 workers will take to the picket line later this month. 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. Strike action in Cheshire will take place over three days from 27-30 June and will bring the plant to a standstill and cripple its ability to dispose of hazardous waste read more
Bus services across Newcastle under threat as workers ballot for strikes over pay (19 June) – Bus services in Newcastle upon Tyne could be seriously impacted as almost 500 bus workers including drivers are being balloted on taking strike action. The Unite members work for Busways Travel Services, part of the Stagecoach North East group, at two major depots in the city – Slatyford and Walkergate. The majority of passenger bus services to and from Newcastle city centre operate from these depots meaning any strike will be extremely disruptive. While no formal pay offer has been made by Stagecoach to Unite members, shop stewards have been unofficially offered a below inflation 3.3% pay rise providing they recommended that members accepted. This is substantially less than Unite is seeking for its members at Stagecoach read more
Rally and strikes at Liverpool University over hybrid working diktat (18 June) – Hundreds of Unite members who are long-standing employees at the University of Liverpool will go on strike this week over proposed changes to their hybrid working patterns. It comes as Liverpool University management decided to impose an extra day to the hybrid working option currently set at 40 per cent on-campus working, expecting staff to come in for 60 per cent of their working week without any negotiations with unions. Workers will be taking industrial action on both Friday (June 20) and Saturday (June 21). These are key open days for the university and events where staff play a key role. There will be a rally at Liverpool University, Harold Cohen library building L3 5TX at 13:00 on Friday, which press are welcome to attend. While the diktat has not yet been fully implemented, some managers have been accused of using ‘under the radar’ tactics to compel workers into attending campus for more than is currently agreed, such as by scheduling in-person meetings read more
Supermarket wine shortage looms as Encirc glass workers in Bristol strike (18 June) – There is set to be shortages of bottled, box and bags of wine on supermarket shelves this summer as over 200 Unite members at the Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol strike over pay and collective bargaining. Members at the factory work across different areas, including bottling and packaging red, white, rose and sparkling wine and distributing it from warehouses. Encirc supplies all the major supermarkets with wine, which is the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK. Encirc is a very profitable company, with a turnover of over £600 million. However, the firm has only offered its workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise without negotiating with Unite – the recognised union – and has now repeatedly stated from now on it will only give pay rises tied to inflation. This effectively means removing Unite’s collective bargaining rights, as any pay increases will be set by Encirc without negotiations before being imposed on workers. Previously, the union had been able to negotiate with management on pay. Unite members at Encirc, overwhelmingly voted to take strike action. Strikes will take place between 19 June and 5 July, with workers in different parts of the business taking strike action on different dates and times according to production schedules to have the biggest impact. There will also be a 12 week overtime ban as part of the action. Encirc asked for negotiations with conciliation service Acas, which Unite agreed to. However workers were then offered a worse deal than that which had already been rejected read more
Wincanton HGV drivers to take industrial action over pay (17 June) – Drivers for Marshalls building supplies will do no night work or overtime. Nearly 200 HGV drivers across the country are to take strike action after their employer, Wincanton, failed to make an acceptable pay offer. Unite’s members work for Wincanton on behalf of Marshalls building supply company whose customers include household names like Travis Perkins, Jewsons, Wickes, Taylor Wimpy and Barrett Homes. Drivers are furious at a pay offer for 2024 that was a one-off payment of £700 which was worth only 1.6 per cent and a four per cent pay offer for 2025. As a result from 30 June drivers take industrial action resulting in them no longer do overtime work or work overnight away from home. The drivers are responsible for delivering approximately 3000 products including patio flagstones, bricks, kerb stones, roof tiles, hard landscaping, drainage etc. Customers will see deliveries grind to a halt with a major impact on private and public building projects and fewer supplies available to the general public read more
London Hedin Mercedes mechanics to strike (17 June) – Brooklands, Bromley and Croydon workers walkout over real terms pay cuts. Mechanics at Hedin Mercedes-Benz dealerships will strike in June and July over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The mechanics, responsible for Mercedes repairs, MOTs and servicing across the capital, voted for industrial action over the company’s refusal to put forward a 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 will strike on 23, 25, 27 and 30 June and 2, 4, 7, 9 and 11 July. Further dates will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved. The industrial action will impact Hedin customers requiring repairs, servicing and MOTs across its sites in Brooklands, Bromley and Croydon read more
Gatwick workers left in dark after forced liquidation proceedings initiated against employer (17 June) – Ground services firm Red Handling refusing to explain HRMC winding up petition as staff fear for their jobs. Unite is demanding answers from Gatwick ground services employer Red Handling after the company was served with a winding up petition from HMRC. Red Handling is due in court on Wednesday (18 June). Winding up petitions are brought by creditors with unpaid debts that can result in a company being forced into liquidation if it cannot pay. Despite repeated requests from Unite to provide clarity to its concerned workforce, Red Handling is refusing to share any information. It also refusing to let Unite officials onsite to consult with staff. Red Handling only responded after repeated requests from the union that the proceedings are a formality and will be resolved. However, given the company’s history of paying wages late and missing pension contributions, Unite is concerned it is not being honest read more
Unite leader Sharon Graham’s local authority funding speech at parliament rally (16 June) – Restructure Treasury debt crippling local authorities or face worker fightback government told. Speaking to council workers rallying outside Parliament today as part of the Fair Funding Now for Local Government campaign, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Friends, I stand here today as your general secretary, bringing with me solidarity, from over 100 Unite picket lines…” read more
Unite welcomes government infrastructure report (16 June) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has welcomed the government’s plans to overhaul the public procurement system but has warned that more detail is needed to ensure that domestic industry fully benefits from the changes read more
Stormont must ensure health and safety legislation keeps pace with reality of climate change (16 June) – Unite launches ‘extreme weather’ policy demands. Trade union Unite launched its Workers in the Eye of the Storm report in Stormont’s Long Gallery this afternoon (Monday 16 June). The report details the results of a survey of Unite members on their experiences during Storm Éowyn and presents a range of legislative proposals to protect workers from the impact of extreme weather events 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
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
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
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
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
Majority of workers at Sheffield refuse site want Unite recognition agreement (28 Mar) 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
CBRE members to vote on “inflation-busting” pay rises (25 June) – CBRE members of the CWU are being urged to vote ‘yes’ on a deal that will guarantee inflation-busting pay rises. Members on the facilities services provider’s BT contract are being encouraged to accept the deal, which have concluded after a series of negotiations between union representatives and management. Fundamental to the agreement is a 3.8% pay increase for all workers on the contract. The deal also includes several other key offers that the union is recommending to members read more
CWU LIVE – USO Pilot Updates (25 June) – National Officer Tony Bouch (Postal, Delivery) joins us live with CWU reps from USO trial pilot offices from across the UK read more
Upcoming CWU Young Workers Events (20 June) – CWU National Young Workers Committee are working to increase participation from our young members and promote their interests within the union, workplace and wider society. All our young members (30 or under) are welcome to get involved and participate in the events below. Just get in touch and we can tell you how read more
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 submits claim to ACAS over recognition (26 June) – The Early Conciliation claim comes in response to ongoing union recognition issues with CIS Security at the National Gallery. CIS Security was contracted to provide security services at the National Gallery in 2024, taking over from Securitas. In accordance with TUPE regulations, a significant number of Securitas staff transferred to CIS Security read more
PCS members at MHCLG escalate industrial action (26 June) – PCS members in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will begin action short of a strike from 30 June.The dispute, which began earlier this year, centres on the closure of six offices, the imposition of rigid office attendance policies, and the withdrawal of location-neutral recruitment read more
Rally to say No to Welfare Cuts (26 June) – PCS is supporting the rally at Westminster on Monday, 30 June to oppose the government’s UC and PIP bill read more
PCS outlines opposition to disability benefits cuts ahead of MP vote (25 June) – The UK Government’s proposed cuts to Personal Independent Payments and Universal Credit will deepen poverty and undermine the ability of disabled people to work, PCS has set out in a letter ahead of a vote on the welfare bill next week read more
The Civil Service Pay Remit – explainer (24 June) – Find out how the remit is applied and about the pay negotiations that take place read more
6-week strike announced at MyCSP (24 June) – PCS members working for pensions administrator MyCSP are to take 6 weeks’ strike action from 7 July in support of their campaign for full union recognition. Our 156 members, whose roles include pension administrators, senior pension administrators, telephony administrators, administration roles, team leaders and managers voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action and will now strike on the following dates: 7-11 July, 14-18 July, 21-25 July, 28 July-1 August, 4-8 August, 11-15 August. MyCSP has refused to recognise PCS and engage the union in formal consultation in the TUPE transfer process ahead of the transfer of the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) contract from MyCSP Ltd to Capita on 1 December. The strike will affect offices in Liverpool and Cheadle Hulme read more
PCS opposes plans to close DWP service centre in Lincoln (20 June) – PCS strongly opposes the decision to close DWP Lincoln Service Centre and will do everything in its power to keep all current DWP jobs in Lincoln. Members in Lincoln were told on Tuesday (17 June) that the service centre at Lincoln City Hall would be closing in May 2026 with the risk of 128 redundancies. Members working in the Jobcentre and other roles deemed support functions are not at risk of redundancy as a result of this decision read more
Third two-day strike at CAA starts tomorrow (16 June) – Civil Aviation Authority members at Gatwick Airport and Canary Wharf will be walking out again on 17 and 18 June. PCS Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) members based at Gatwick Airport and Canary Wharf are taking six days of industrial action in their dispute over pay. In this six-day period of strike action, the members working for the aviation industry regulator walked out for two days on 3 and 4 June and 10 and 11. This is a continuation of the dispute that also saw them take strike action in January and March as well as a work to rule with an overtime ban. The members’ pay dispute goes back to 2024: the imposed pay offer for 2024-2025 was below the industry rate and the civil service pay remit. We are currently negotiating pay for 2025-2026, which will also consider the 2024-2025 pay dispute read more. And send messages of support to [email protected]
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
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
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
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
Scathing ONS report reflects long-standing concerns of Prospect members (27 June) – An independent review for the government of the performance and culture at the Office for National Statistics has found ‘deep-seated’ issues and a ‘reluctance, at senior levels, to hear and act on difficult news read more
Incidents like Heathrow outage increasingly likely, warns Prospect (25 June) – Major energy outages, such as the one that lead to the closure of Heathrow Airport, are increasingly likely to occur again because of the way the energy system is currently run, says Prospect in its submission to NESO’s review of the incident at North Hyde substation 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
FDA rejects claims civil service to blame for delays to Northern Ireland infrastructure projects (25 June) – The FDA’s National Officer for Northern Ireland Robert Murtagh has spoken out against claims that the Northern Ireland Civil Service are to blame for the failure of major infrastructure projects to be completed on time read more
GMB
Stafford school strikes loom (24 June) – Workers are furious after school bosses demand more work for less money, says GMB union. GMB Union has today announced that workers at a West Midlands primary school will stage strike action next week. Schools support staff at Doxey Academy in Stafford, owned by Creative Learning Partnership Trust, will down tools after school bosses threatened to impose a new contract on staff. The new contract will see support staff and Teaching Assistants paid only for term time work. The changes could see some staff as much as £6,000 worse off a year. Strike action will begin on Wednesday 2 July read more
Industrial strategy ‘big step forward’ (23 June) – GMB Union has responded to the Government’s industrial strategy, released today [Monday] read more
Vital step in safeguarding UK ceramics (23 June) – GMB has been calling for urgent action to cut energy bills for the sector. GMB Union, representing thousands of workers across the UK ceramic sector, has today welcomed the news that the Government’s Industrial Strategy will include support for energy intensive industry read more
Asda St Leonards undertakes action towards culture change after GMB survey
ASDA (22 May) – This once again shows what a strong union can do, says GMB
GMB union can announce some major changes in Asda’s St Leonards superstore following a culture survey among its almost 100 members. Members reported many long-standing issues for the night staff and positive action has been taken as a direct result of the survey. After several weeks of investigation and negotiations, GMB is satisfied that change is underway and the damage is being repaired read more
Uber dynamic pricing report ‘welcome’ (19 June) – GMB Union has welcomed a report into dynamic pricing, which appears to show it benefits Uber more than drivers read more
Wigan glass fibre closure ‘bitter betrayal’ (18 June) – The closure of a Wigan glass factory is a ‘bitter betrayal of workers and UK industry’, GMB has said. Nippon Electric Glass has today [Tuesday] announced the country’s largest glass fibre factory in Hindley Green, Wigan, will shut at the cost of 250 skilled jobs. the closure follows the collapse of rescue talks involving ministers, investors, and Labour’s leadership, after months of efforts to save the site. Nippon, the Japanese owner, is accused of repeatedly shifting the goalposts, despite serious interest from buyers and backing from government. GMB, alongside local MP Josh Simons, fought to keep the plant open read more
Thames weir and lockkeepers suspend industrial action (17 June) – River Thames weir and lockkeepers have suspended industrial action after a last-minute offer from bosses. Workers, employed by the Environment Agency, had voted to strike and we’re set to begin ‘work to rule’ today [Tuesday] over concerns only 52 permanent trained staff were expected to perform tasks needing more than 90 during peak season. They have now received an offer pledging at least 80 staff during the summer. Industrial action has been suspended will GMB and members review details of the offer 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
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
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
RCN invites members to share views on Supreme Court judgment (19 June) – The RCN is running a series of inclusive and supportive sessions for members to share their thoughts on the recent Supreme Court judgment and its impact on nursing read more
Public backs better pay for nursing as tens of thousands vote on NHS award (16 June) – As RCN members have their say on a pay increase of 3.6%, the public shows its support for nursing read more
RCN opens donations to strike fund in response to public desire to support striking staff – We’ve launched a donation page for people to financially help nursing staff on strike read more
RCM
RCM ballots members on industrial action over on call arrangements (26 June) – Midwives in South Tyneside and Sunderland are being balloted on industrial action over proposals for on call arrangements that would see them being ‘on call’ on their days off 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
CSP
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
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
Doctors call on GMC leaders to resign (24 June) – Regulator is ‘rotten’ and needs urgent change, ARM agrees read more
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
NEU
NEU signs joint unions letter calling for delay to introduction of revised inspection arrangements (23 June) – Commenting on a letter sent today to Bridget Phillipson by the general secretaries of NEU, NASUWT, ASCL and NAHT, asking her to delay the introduction of revised inspection arrangements to the start of the 2026/27 academic year, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The current system of school inspection is driving a workload and mental health crisis in schools and badly letting parents and carers down. We call, alongside other unions today, on the Secretary of State for Education to intervene urgently…” 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
Support the strikes:-
NASUWT
Yorkshire school limping towards closure demands teachers work for free (27 June) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at the independent Fulneck School in Pudsey have declared an industrial dispute after discovering they would not be paid for the school’s last half term of operation – despite the fact that they are still expected to work read more
Teachers strike at £24k-a-year private school over ‘second class’ pay offer (26 June) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Surbiton High School are taking the first of three days of strike action today (Thursday) over a pay award that is 45% lower than that given to state school teachers. The fee-paying school in the London borough of Kingston, Surrey, which charges as much as £24k a year per pupil, has only offered 3% to teachers for the 2024/25 academic year. In contrast teachers in the state-funded sector were awarded 5.5% for the 2024/25 academic year read more
Government must scrap inspection reform timetable (23 June) – The Department for Education must scrap plans to introduce its new arrangements for school inspection in November and delay any implementation until the start of the 2026/27 academic year at the earliest. NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has warned the Secretary of State for Education that plans to give schools just two months to digest the detail of the reforms and prepare for their introduction will place wholly unacceptable and unjustified pressures on school leaders and teachers and that the timescale for reform must be extended read more
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
Education Bill misses the mark on education reform, says EIS (26 June) – Responding to the passage of the Education (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament late last night, the Educational Institute of Scotland has reflected its disappointment that the consensual vision and recommendations for reform arising from a swathe of education reviews will not be realised read more
EIS Opens statutory ballot at UWS over redundancy threat (26 June) – The Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers’ Association (EIS ULA) branch at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has announced the opening of a statutory ballot for strike action. This significant step comes as the Union seeks a firm guarantee from UWS management that there will be no compulsory redundancies as part of the ongoing Organisational Change Project (OCP). The ballot opened on Monday, June 23, 2025, and will close at 12:00 PM on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 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
UCU
UCU Stop the Cuts campaign
Sign petition against the education cuts
Centre for Academic Language and Development staff at University of Bristol to strike in July and August (26 June) – Staff working in the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Language Development (CALD) have voted to take 21 days of strike action in a dispute over plans to threaten staff with redundancy, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced today. An overwhelming 95% of UCU members who voted backed strike action in a ballot that had a turnout of 82%. Staff will down tools on the following days (picket info tbc):
- Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 July
- Monday 14 July, Wednesday 16 July and Thursday 17 July
- Monday 21 July to Thursday 24 July
- Monday 28 July, Wednesday 30 July and Thursday 31 July
- Tuesday 5 August to Friday 8 August
- Monday 11 August
- Wednesday 13 August to Friday 15 August read more
University and College Union comment on Dundee University financial crisis evidence at the Scottish Parliament’s education, children and young people committee (26 June) – Commenting on the evidence given to the Scottish Parliament’s education, children and young people committee yesterday and today (Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 June 2025) by former members of the university’s executive group and former chair of court, Mary Senior, Scotland official for UCU, said: “The last two days of evidence in front of the Parliament’s education, children and young people committee show clearly that the senior management of the university were completely out of their depth and that there was abject failure in leadership, planning, decision making and financial oversight at the university. “University staff and students simply cannot be left to pay the price for those failings…” read more
Cheshire College South & West staff to strike in July and August (25 June) – Staff at Cheshire College South & West (CCSW) will take industrial action for four days over July and August in a dispute over pay, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced today. An overwhelming 79% of UCU members who voted backed strike action in a ballot that had a turnout of 58%. Staff across the three CCSW campuses in Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Chester will down tools on Monday 7 July and again on Thursday 21, Friday 22 and Tuesday 26 August, with pickets at the Crewe campus from 8am-11am on each day. The dispute is over management’s refusal to provide staff a pay award for the current year; instead imposing a paltry one-off payment of just 1.5% read more
University of Bradford staff to down tools for 10 days over £16m cuts programme (25 June) – Staff at the University of Bradford will begin ten days of strike action next week over plans to make £16m of cuts, slash hundreds of jobs and close multiple courses. The full strike dates are;-
- Monday 30 June
- Monday 7, Tuesday 8, Thursday 10 & Friday 11 July
- Monday 21, Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23, Thursday 24 and Friday 25 July
Staff will be on picket lines from 8am every strike day and the branch is planning a rally outside the front of the university on Monday 30 June at 11.30am. The action comes after an overwhelming 67% of UCU members who voted backed downing tools in a ballot with a 57% turnout. The dispute is over the £16m of cuts management wants to force through read more
UCU condemns proposed closure of Skills Academy and threat to jobs (24 June) – The University and College Union (UCU) has today condemned the proposed closure of the Skills Academy in Billingham, warning it would damage educational provision for vulnerable learners and threaten the jobs of dedicated staff read more
UCU beats back sacking threat at Newcastle University after 44 strike days (20 June) – The University and College Union (UCU) today celebrated as it beat back the threat of compulsory redundancies at Newcastle University. In an announcement to staff today, Newcastle University management confirmed it will not be making any compulsory redundancies. The announcement came as Newcastle UCU members downed tools for their 44th day of strike action in their long running dispute. Staff have been striking over management’s threat to make around £35m of cuts and its refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies read more
Union vows to fight Lancaster University threat to axe one in five academics (20 June) – UCU has vowed to fight Lancaster University management over its threat to cut hundreds of jobs. The threatened cuts include axing over 200 (212 full time equivalent (FTE)) academics, equating to almost one in five of the academic workforce (1100/212). Overall, university management intends to get rid of 400 FTE staff by 31 July 2026, with academics set to be chopped first read more
Edinburgh University staff strike in dispute over £140million cuts and job losses (20 June) – University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Edinburgh are on strike today, Friday 20 June, in the first of a series of strikes over senior management’s plans to cut £140million from the annual budget and refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies. Staff will be on picket lines across the university and will hold a rally from 11.00am on George Square in Edinburgh. As well as striking today, to coincide with a university open day, staff at the university will also take strike action at the start of the new academic year in September. The union estimates that cuts of £140million could see 1,800 staff lose their jobs. The strike follows a ballot where 84% of UCU members at the university voted to back strike action and 93% to back action short of strike. The turnout was 60% read more
Staff back strikes at Truro and Penwith College in job cuts dispute (19 June) – Staff at Truro and Penwith College have overwhelmingly voted to take strike action in defence of jobs and student provision. Last week over eight in ten of UCU members who voted (82%) backed strike action, in a ballot that beat the anti-trade union turnout threshold of 50%. The dispute is over management’s plans to axe up to 100 employees in redundancy plans that have already seen some staff given the boot. Financial mismanagement has led to a £4.2m shortfall for 2024/25 and the college is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies. College expenditure has persistently outstripped income since 2017 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
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
Starmer must reverse course on “shameful” welfare cuts, warns union leader (24 June) – As more than 100 Labour MPs announce that they will oppose the welfare cuts, Fire Brigades Union leader Steve Wright has told Keir Starmer that he must reverse course. He said that the party leadership would “never be forgiven” if it went ahead, and warned that the measures could rely on Tory votes to make it through parliament read more
Firefighters rally outside county council meeting with Gloucestershire fire chief (18 June) – Protestors hold signs saying “our families matter”
Firefighters held a rally outside a meeting of Gloucestershire county council this Wednesday 18 June, calling for chief fire office Mark Preece to scrap “unworkable” changes to shift patterns. The Fire Brigades Union has warned that changing day shifts from 8am to 7pm instead of 9am to 6pm for wholetime (full time) firefighters risks forcing many firefighters out of the service. The council’s fire and rescue scrutiny committee has recommended that the plans are abandoned, raising issues around the impact on firefighters’ morale, a lack of childcare provision, the detrimental effect on firefighters’ family lives, the significant impact on women in the workforce, and the toll the changes would take on firefighters’ physical and mental health read more
POA
NEC minutes June 2025 read more
National Chair update May 2025 read here
Employment rights bill and prison officers right to strike (13 Mar) – POA Circular 14/2025 explained to members that John McDonnell MP had submitted amendments to the Bill that would reinstate the basic human right of Prison Officers ability to withdraw their labour. The Executive invited members, their families, friends and others in the Trade Union movement to contact their MPS to support the amendments. As a result of the campaign 1572 people contacted their MP by email, along with many others who contacted their MP by other means. Despite this, MPs were denied a vote on John’s proposal and the Bill has now gone through the Report Stage without John’s amendments included and we will continue to have our basic rights denied. John McDonnell did speak in the House of Commons on his amendments and a link to his speech can be found here. In addition, the following MPs added their name to the amendment: John McDonnell, Mary Kelly Foy, Richard Burgon, Mike Amesbury, Dr Simon Opher, Jon Trickett, Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Kim Johnson, Nadia Whittome, Steve Witherden, Kate Osborne, Imran Hussain, Jeremy Corbyn, Andy McDonald, Ian Byrne, and Zarah Sultana read more
NAPO
Increments paid up thanks to joint union campaign (25 June) – Thanks to the continued pressure applied by Napo, UNISON and GMB/SCOOP, HMPPS have advised that eligible staff not yet at the top of their pay band will progress to the next pay point, backdated to the 1st of April 2025. HMPPS have advised staff they expect this to be paid to those eligible staff in their June salary, which will mean a backdated amount paid for the period from the 1st of April read more
HMPPS overtime update (13 June) – HMPPS have updated their guidance on overtime. The only changes from the previously agreed published version are the inclusion of FTR48 in the bonus scheme and the updated process for claiming the enhanced rate, which is now available within SOP read more
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
On the Line – Our report on Worker Treatment and Conditions at MOWI Rosyth (24 June) – We are in Scottish Parliament today, talking to MSPs about the report we have put together with Unity Consulting Scotland and Scottish Hazards, outlining the health and safety issues our members who work at MOWI Rosyth are facing at work read more
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
BALPA
Ryanair denied permission to appeal in landmark blacklisting ruling (19 June) – The Supreme Court last week rejected Ryanair’s application to appeal in a landmark blacklisting case that found the company’s actions against striking pilots unlawful. Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal ruled that Ryanair had breached Blacklisting Regulations by removing concessionary benefits for pilots who took part in strike action to demand better terms and conditions in 2019. That ruling clearly established that such retaliatory actions against workers who take part in lawful industrial action are both unacceptable and unlawful read more
Nautilus International
Seafarers’ health and welfare research gets the chop as Cardiff shutters SIRC (21 June) – The renowned Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) – which was set up in 1995 on the initiative of Nautilus International General Secretary Mark Dickinson who at the time ran the ITF Seafarers’ Trust – is being forced to close at the end of June because of swingeing cost-cutting measures by Cardiff University, Andrew Draper reports read more
NUJ
Police commit to act if activists attempt to stop journalists working (26 June) – Senior London Metropolitan Police officers have provided reassurances to the NUJ ahead of the Football Lads Against Grooming Gangs demonstration on 28 June. If police witness stewards, or anyone else, obstructing journalists at work, or physically contacting media workers, they will intervene. That clear commitment came from senior London Metropolitan Police officers, at a meeting with NUJ officials to discuss possible issues on the Football Lads Against Grooming Gangs demonstration, advertised for Saturday 28 June read more
NUJ condemns as deplorable, the IRGC’s detention of an Iran International journalist’s family (23 June) – The National Union of Journalists has strongly condemned the detention of an Iran International journalist’s family by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran read more
Israel: IFJ records harassment and censorship of Palestinian Israeli journalists (19 June) – The NUJ joins the International Federation of Journalists in condemning a wave of attacks against Palestinian Israeli journalists. At least 26 journalists including foreign media were subjected to physical assaults, racist incitement, denial of access to sites, censorship raids and equipment seizure from 14 to 17 June. Most of the journalists were Palestinian citizens of Israel working for Arab-language and international media read more
Iran: four journalists killed by Israeli air strikes (19 June) – NUJ joins the International Federation of Journalists in calling for an end to the targeting of journalists and media facilities read more
NUJ urges greater transparency over Palantir technologies partnership with police forces (19 Jun) – A report by Liberty Investigates reveals trade union membership is among data processed by forces. The union has expressed its concern whilst stressing the need to protect confidential journalistic material read more
Iran: NUJ condemns Israeli attack on state broadcaster (17 June) – The union has joined the International Federation of Journalists in condemning targeted Israeli strikes against the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Tehran read more
NUJ urges release of journalist Yanis Mhamdi (17 June) – The National Union of Journalists has joined the International Federation of Journalists in urging the immediate release of Yanis Mhamdi, detained by Israeli authorities read more
NUJ supports the Right to Food campaign (16 June) – Eleven million people in the UK are experiencing food insecurity. The NUJ supports the Right to Food campaign read more
Equity
Arts Council England should introduce a ‘national theatre’ system across regions (27 June) – Equity has recommended that Arts Council England (ACE) introduce a network of ‘national theatres’ across England read more
Nearly 1.5k actors send open letter to Pact on AI (24 June) – Equity members and actors working in film and TV have signed an open letter “to express concern at the lack of progress on securing AI protections for performers” and say that they will not “not accept any deal that does not grant us key protections” in this area read more
Petition to reopen Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax passes one thousand signatures (24 June) – Over 1,000 people have signed our petition calling for Square Chapel Arts Centre to be reopened read more
Equity Film and TV members demand better (17 June) – Issues of pay, royalties, AI, self-tapes and hair and make-up provision at the fore read more
Musicians Union
MU Stands with Rock City Workers in Fight for Union Recognition (18 June) – We’re asking MU members to support a petition highlighting the exploitation of workers at the world-famous venue Rock City in Nottingham read more
Data Bill Passes Without Generative AI Protections (13 June) – Parliament has passed the Data Bill without an amendment aimed to protect musicians and creators from generative artificial intelligence (AI) read more
Community
New steel procurement guidance welcomed (26 June) – Community welcomes the UK government’s announcement of new procurement rules to promote British industry, jobs and skills. The Cabinet Office is set to consult on new measures to boost sectors that are critical to national security, like steel. This will include central government departments being instructed to prioritise UK-produced steel products for infrastructure projects read more
USDAW
Usdaw congratulates the Living Wage Foundation on obtaining employer commitments to more secure contracts (18 June) – Retail trade union Usdaw has congratulated the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) for its scheme to tackle insecure work and attracting support from 237 UK employers for its Living Hours accreditation. They are employers who are challenging the UK’s culture of precarious employment which sees 6.1 million people struggle to get by without regular hours to make ends meet 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
West End Quays concierge and cleaners to strike in July against surveillance, intimidation and punitive pay policy (25 June) – Cleaners and concierge at West End Quays luxury apartments in West London will walk out on strike on July 7, standing up to what they say is an aggressive and union-busting agenda from management. The workers, all members of United Voices of the World (UVW) union, are fighting the attempted imposition of performance-related pay, the unlawful use of CCTV surveillance and a culture of bullying and abuse of disciplinary processes read more
Hundreds of NHS facilities’ workers at St Helier and Epsom Hospitals launch historic strike ballot in major push for equality (25 June) – “We are the pillars of this hospital — if we don’t clean, transport people around or serve food, patients and their families suffer. The board knows this. It’s time they gave us the respect we deserve. Change our contracts. Give us equality, dignity, and the recognition every NHS worker should have” – Dennis Gyamfi, a cleaner at Epsom Hospital and UVW member read more
UVW stands with Palestine Action – Statement (23 June) – The plan to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation is a disgraceful attack on the right to resist state-sponsored violence. It is a dangerous, authoritarian abuse of terrorism laws — not to protect the public, but to silence dissent and protect the UK’s role in the Israeli genocide 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
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
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU says HSE must address lack of opportunities for Radiographer and Radiation Therapy graduates (27 June) – SIPTU representatives have called on the HSE to address the lack of opportunities for recent Radiographer and Radiation Therapist graduates to take up employment in the public health service read more
Labour Court recommends a final extension to Long Covid scheme (27 June) – The Labour Court has issued its recommendation on a Union-wide claim for an Occupational Illness Scheme for Long Covid sufferers. Instead of establishing a permanent scheme, the Court has advised a six-month extension of the current temporary paid leave arrangement, now set to expire on 31st December 2025. Media reports suggest the Government has accepted this recommendation. From 1st January 2026, affected workers still unable to return due to Long Covid will transition to the standard Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, which includes access to Critical Illness Protocol and Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration read more
Bord na Móna Recycling strike called off following improved offer to workers (18 June) – SIPTU representatives have agreed to call off a scheduled one-day strike at Bord na Móna Recycling following the securing of a significantly improved offer for workers at talks with the company in Portlaoise, County Laois, today (Wednesday, 18th June) read more
SIPTU seeks meeting with Bus Éireann to discuss anti-social behaviour on Limerick services (18 June) – SIPTU representatives have written to Bus Éireann management to request an urgent meeting to discuss the increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour on one of its Limerick services which has resulted in serious damage to buses and endangerment to workers in recent days read more
EU must deliver a fair deal for all construction workers (16 June) – SIPTU representatives have issued a call to the Irish Government to exert its diplomatic influence to ensure the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union secures the implementation of mandatory conditions for all construction workers. The call comes as negotiations on the revision of EU social security regulations draw to a close and an agreement to ensure mandatory prior notification for the posting of workers within the EU construction sector remains outstanding 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
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.
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)
Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company statement
Warning on the Intensification of Warmongering Threats and the Heightened Risk of Widening War
Dear hard-working colleagues at the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, and fellow workers across the country,
Given the increasingly critical war conditions in the country—especially their impact on the livelihoods, employment, and very survival of us workers in Tehran and throughout Iran, including drivers and workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, Metro employees, municipal service workers, intercity transport drivers, and truckers responsible for delivering essential goods from city to city—and in view of the continued daily bombings in Tehran and other regions, the widespread public anxiety, and the deep fear of destruction and the killing of innocent people—and in continuation of the joint statement we issued a few days ago alongside a group of independent labour organizations—we wish to stress the following:
The recent threats by Donald Trump—including the order to evacuate Tehran, a city with about 14 million residents including its suburbs—and the very real prospect of direct U.S. military intervention in support of Israel have not only caused deep concern and outrage among us workers and the oppressed, but have also provoked criticism from some of his closest political allies. We workers take these violent threats extremely seriously and unequivocally condemn them alongside Israel’s military aggression.
The silence and inaction of international institutions, including the United Nations, and the shameful complicity of European governments—particularly Germany, the United Kingdom, and France—with these expansionist, aggressive, and unjustifiable threats have effectively fueled the march toward war. This war has now become an official, coordinated, and open project of the criminal governments of the United States and Israel, backed and supported by other Western states—a project of destruction, human slaughter, environmental devastation in Iran, and the continued repression and denial of basic rights in the country.
What has become of this world that millions of people in another country are so casually threatened with the destruction of their homes, lives, and very existence—on television and social media, in flagrant violation of the very international laws that these same powers once drafted themselves?
The global public conscience and peace-seeking movements in the United States, Europe, and beyond must pressure the governments of the U.S. and Israel to immediately halt their military assaults and agree to a ceasefire. The Islamic Republic government must also act with full seriousness and transparency to stop the war and secure an immediate ceasefire. Continuing this war will be disastrous for the people and the future of both Iran and the region.
We, the freedom-loving and equality-seeking people of Iran and the world, must raise our voices louder than ever to demand an immediate ceasefire.
The justice-seeking struggles of us workers in Iran have always faced systematic hostility and repression from the exploitative, authoritarian, and anti-worker state and ruling establishment. This confrontation—now spanning more than four decades—has come at great cost to workers and their families: imprisonment, dismissal, flogging, threats, assaults, and severe economic hardship. This class struggle, which will undoubtedly continue, has never been and will never be waged so that we become cannon fodder for Israel, the United States, or their allies. The backbone of this struggle is the independent, collective, and organized power of workers, justice-seeking people, and the global working class. It not only rejects all imperial powers, but has also suffered serious harm from their interventions, which have undermined and damaged our social foundations and class solidarity.
Once again, we call on all peace-seeking forces across Iran and the world—especially labour organizations, political organizations and parties, environmental movements, women’s organizations, student and civil groups, human rights defenders, and anti-war movements—to resolutely demand an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war, and to work toward a just and lasting peace. A peace that saves lives from the impending catastrophe, and enables us—workers and the oppressed—to shape our own destiny through our independent organizations.
In these dangerous and uncertain times—when war, insecurity, destruction, and repression loom over our lives—consciousness, solidarity, and mutual aid remain powerful tools for defending our lives, dignity, and future.
No to War – No to Warmongering Policies
A Ceasefire Now Is Our Immediate Demand
The Liberation of Workers and the Oppressed Lies in Unity and Organization
Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company
This statement was released on June 21, 2025 (Khordad 31, 1404), following a delay due to widespread internet outages in the country.
Link to the original statement in Farsi:
https://t.me/vahedsyndica/6284
Official Telegram Channel:
Official Instagram Account:
https://www.instagram.com/vahedsyndica
Official Twitter (X) Account:
Contact via Telegram:
@Vahed_Syndica
Email:
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
