Unite members working in Bromley libraries began the first of 8 days of strike action last Saturday. The long running dispute is in defence of the library service from privatisation. The campaign has already seen off the privateers from Carillion and a proposal to replace permanent staff with volunteers. Now Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) are thought to be the last realistic bidders for the contract – although the Council ludicrously claims that commercial confidentiality means that they cannot disclose the remaining bidders!!
GLL claim to be a social enterprise yet act like the worst of private companies, employing three quarters of staff on zero hour contract and refusing to pay the London Living Wage to many of its own leisure based staff. Yet Lord John Bird – founder of the Big Issue claims that GLL are the saviours of libraries!! Lord Bird attended the library march in London last November, demanding to speak at the event as a very important campaigner!! There is a lesson here – support is always welcome from whatever quarter. However, it is the trade unions that will lead the fight to save public service, not Lords!!!
Send messages of support to Unite Bromley branch secretary Kathy Smith [email protected] and post donations to 12 Mells Crescent – Mottingham SE9 4NF – cheques should be made out to Bromley LG Unite Branch
ASLEF drivers reject Southern Rail offer for 2nd time
The NSSN salutes drivers on Southern Rail in who have again rejected the offer from their union leadership and Southern Rail to settle their dispute about Driver Only Operation (DOO). We call on ASLEF to approach the RMT who have members on strike again against DOO this Saturday April 8th on Southern Rail, Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North and plan co-ordinated action.
RMT on Southern Rail ASLEF ballot
NSSN news
Trade Union Act came into force on March 1st – TUC call a special conference
The Tories have confirmed that their anti-union laws, incorporated in the Trade Union Act, including new undemocratic industrial action ballot thresholds will come into force on March 1st. The NSSN calls on the TUC to implement the policy passed at last September’s TUC Congress which was moved by the RMT which includes:
“Congress believes the General Council needs to convene an urgent conference of affiliates to provide a practical forum, including workshops, as to how to best coordinate our legal and industrial response to the Act in line with policy already set by Congress.”
and an amendment from the FBU:
“Congress should discuss all options for challenging the new legislation. This should include stepping up the campaign to scrap the Act and other anti-union legislation as well as the practical steps to be taken to support any unions and groups of workers threatened by this anti-worker legislation.”
Early notice – the 11th annual NSSN Conference will be on Saturday July 1st 2017 from 11am in Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. It is open to all trade union and anti-cuts campaigners Facebook event
This is a video of the NSSN TUC Congress Rally on 11 September – Tories Out! Keep Corbyn!
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Affiliation letter is below
Download the ‘Join the NSSN’ leaflet here
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
Union News
RMT
BREAKING NEWS!! RMT and ASLEF announce victory for justice over Night Tube drivers’ career progression
RMT announces action beginning with April 8th strike after Night Tube drivers vote by over 96% for strike action over block on career progression read more ASLEF drivers on Night Tube to strike
Sign the petition: Defend the London Bridge Three – London Underground senior managers are seeking to lie and mislead the public over the events surrounding the punitive disciplinary sanctions handed down to the London Bridge 3. Their colleague, who was pregnant, was assaulted by a fare evader on November 16. She requested assistance via connect radio and this has been confirmed by the CSS who took the radio call. London Underground are lying when they say this CSA was not assaulted read more RMT ballot for action opens over “London Bridge Three
TSSA
TSSA ballot on industrial action at Translink (3 April) – TSSA are balloting members at Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport network today for industrial action over a pay and consultation dispute in their management, professional and technical (MPT) grades. Ballot papers are due to be sent out today – Monday (April 3). The company have been notified read more
Irish Bus Éireann transport strike – for latest updates see websites of National Bus & Railworkers’ Union, TSSA, Unite and SIPTU
Solidarity strike action brings public transport to a halt
More Unite news
Unite calls for urgent action into windfarm safety after two deaths in Scotland in a fortnight (3 April) – Unite has called for urgent action to improve safety on windfarms after two workers were killed in a fortnight. The first tragedy occurred on March 15 when Antonio Linares a 37 year old Portuguese worker, was killed from a fall at Scottish Power’s Kilgallioch Windfarm in South Ayrshire. Mr Linares was working for contractor Gamesa. The most recent tragedy occurred on Wednesday 29 March. A Spanish worker fell to his death while undertaking maintenance on a turbine at Scottish Power’s Whitelee Windfarm in East Renfrewshire read more
Unite voices disappointment at the failure to resolve dispute at Nuclear bases (31 March) – Unite the union has expressed disappointment and frustration that their attempt at reaching a resolution to the on-going industrial dispute at Faslane and Coulport nuclear bases has been scuppered by managements refusal to listen to our members concerns. Discussions have been taking place between Unite and Babcock Marine at ACAS over the last two days however have today concluded without resolution of the dispute read more
BMW workers vote for strike action over ‘pension robbery’ (31 March) – BMW workers making engines and the iconic Mini and Rolls-Royce motorcars have overwhelmingly backed industrial action over plans to close their final salary pension scheme the country’s largest union Unite, announced today (Friday 31 March). 93 per cent of those voting in the ballots backed strike action with 97 per cent voting for industrial action short of strike over the planned closure of the BMW (UK) operations pension scheme, which could see some UK workers lose up to £160,000 in retirement income. Those taking part in the four ballots were Unite members in the BMW (UK) operations pension scheme and combined turnout was 72 per cent read more
Support Fujitsu workers on national strike – The industrial action is already biting, having a real impact on the company in a number of areas. Tomorrow some of our reps and Unite National Officer are meeting the company to see if the company is willing to make an offer to resolve the dispute which could then be put to members. We are campaigning:
- To save jobs, avoid Compulsory Redundancies and improve redundancy pay
- For all employees to have the right to union recognition, especially now our Voice has been removed
- For compensation for employees whose pensions were retrospectively slashed; to tackle pay inequality; and for Fujitsu to become an accredited Living Wage employer
The next strike dates are: Thursday 13th April, Thursday 20th April, Friday 21st April and Monday 24th April read more
Send a message of support to [email protected] or Unite the Union, Fujitsu MAN34, Central Park, Northampton Road, Manchester, M40 5BP
Donations payable to “Manchester IT Workers Group” can be sent c/o John Wood, 50 Brooklyn Street, Crewe, CW2 7JF. Or transfer online to Account: 00980539, Sort Code: 30-91-48 and email [email protected] with details. Follow and promote the campaign on social media using #FujitsuFightback. www.facebook.com/uniteatfujitsu www.twitter.com/unitefujitsu picket line details
Mixed Fleet cabin crew re-ballot: 90% vote for more strikes!! Keep supporting the workers! – Send messages of support and donations (make cheques out to Unite the Union and write ‘Mixed Fleet Hardship Fund’ on the back) to: Unite the Union, Ron Todd House, 33-37 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB. Tweet support to @MFUnite
PCS
Stunning turnout for PCS pay protests (3 Apr) – PCS payday protests were strongly supported across the country with members sending a clear message to the government to break the 1% public sector pay cap. Momentum had been building throughout last week ahead of Friday’s protests, with members holding photoshoots with our pay up photo opp cards at recruitment events, training sessions and in their workplaces. Thousands of members turned out throughout the day, to support our call for a rise of 5% or £1,200, from Oban to Exeter, Lochinver to London and Aberdeen to Cardiff, for the events organised by hundreds of branches across many different employer groups. Hundreds of photos and messages came streaming in to the communications department all day on Friday (31 March) read more
Unison
Derby Teaching Assistants have suspended their indefinite strike against 23% pay cuts to consider a new offer from the council. Their colleagues in Durham who have also been taking action against similar attacks marched last Saturday
Donate to Derby hardship fund here
Derby Unison branch Facebook page here
Donate to the Durham TAs’ fund here
Durham TAs Facebook page here
Support ongoing Glasgow Unison janitors’ dispute – Facebook group and website
Support the Kinsley School cleaners in Wakefield on indefinite strike since September 6th – Facebook Group. Donate to strike fund – send to Wakefield Unison, 18 Gills Yard, Wakefield WF1 3BZ
FBU
Video: FBU set out ‘red lines’ over emergency medical responding (30 March) – The leader of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has set out ‘red lines’ over serious pay and conditions issues in a series of trials being undertaken by firefighters carrying out emergency medical response. In this video update, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack calls on employers to resolve a series of operational concerns being raised by firefighters and says that the red lines set out by the union must be met if the trials are to continue read more
GMB
Ferrybridge workers protest against ‘race to bottom’ (29 March) – Today I was told that some companies have started employing engineering construction workers on zero-hour contracts! This is how far the ‘race to the bottom’ has gone. This in an industry that has – on the big sites – a national agreement, the NAECI. But the employers have been attacking, eroding, undermining and by-passing the NAECI for over a decade. It’s no wonder that 150-200 construction workers protested outside Ferrybridge power station in Yorkshire this morning. A second ‘multi-fuels’ project is starting at Ferrybridge, with fears that local labour will again be excluded as contracts are given to foreign companies who bring in their own core workforces read more
GMB Launches ‘Uber-Style’ Case Against UK Express (March 31) – Union files legal claim against Amazon’s logistics company in latest high profile case against firms using self-employment loopholes to avoid paying the minimum wage. GMB union today launched legal action against national logistics company UK Express, on behalf of workers at Amazon read more
GMB Yacht Targets Topshop as Spectrum for Arcadia staff strike again (March 30) – Spectrum for Arcadia staff to strike again tomorrow in desperate bid for living wage. GMB’s luxury yacht – the Decent Wage Destroyer – makes its maiden voyage today targeting Topshop and Dorothy Perkins stores in anger at Sir Philip Green’s ‘poverty pay’ read more
BFAWU
The Fast Food Rights campaign are calling for ‘Fight for £10 – May Day Pay Day’ marches this May Day – contact Gareth Lane [email protected] for info
Reinstate Kumaran Bose – sacked by Samworths! The NSSN is supporting the BFAWU’s campaign in support of Kumaran Bose who was dismissed for speaking out and for organising a union in his workplace read more Facebook group BFAWU Statement On Samworth Brothers’ Sacking Of Kumaran Bose
UCU
Staff at University of Brighton strike over job losses and demotions (30 March) – Staff at the University of Brighton are set to walk out from 1pm tomorrow (Friday 31 March) in a dispute over job losses, plans to limit promotions and downgrade teaching staff read more
Support the reinstatement of London Met union reps: Mark Campbell and David Hardman https://uculondonmet.wordpress.com/
NUT
Hackney teachers go on strike in response to school funding cuts (April 4) – Hackney teachers went on strike on Thursday in response to school funding cuts. Parkwood Primary School was closed to students due to the strike action, which was called in response to the loss of three intervention teaching posts read more from Hackney Gazette
Forest Hill parents, striking staff and students march to Lewisham Town Hall (March 30) – on Thursday March 30, NUT members at Forest Hill School were left with no choice but to take their third day of strike action to oppose the damaging cuts to staffing and curriculum at FHS read more
BECTU
6th Picturehouse cinema, East Dulwich votes to strike as Brixton Ritzy, Hackney and Central cinemas strike on March 31st
Brixton Facebook Page Hackney Facebook Page Crouch End Facebook Page Central Facebook Page Support the Picturehouse Strike Fund – donate now
CWU
Tesco Mobile pay up as staff speak out (3 April) – Compelling feedback from Capita/Tesco Mobile members over the importance of their 2017 pay rise keeping pace with rising prices has been credited with helping to secure an revised offer from Capita which has just been accepted by members. Negotiations appeared to have stalled following the CWU’s rejection of a 1.25 per cent pro-rata offer – but following the presentation to management of feedback from members collected by CWU reps at the Bury and Preston Brook sites, the company tabled an improved offer read more
United Voices of the World union (UVW)
BREAKING NEWS: UVW secures the removal of Noonan’s cleaner account director at the LSE University following his inaction in the face of homophobic harassment! – You may remember the case of a member of UVW, Sam (pseudonym), who works as a cleaner at the LSE University. He was subjected to hideous homophobic hate crimes by several people over many months. He reported the abuse he was suffering to the cleaning company Noonan’s account director, Ricahrd Seddon, who chose not to suspend the accused whilst an investigation took place or even investigate the matter at all. Instead he responded dismissively saying, in reference to the country of origin of the accused that, “it’s in their culture.” UVW takes a zero tolerance policy towards homophobia or any form of discrimination and we demanded justice and accountability with the support of the Justice for LSE Cleaners campaign through petitions, pickets and protests. Here’s a video of one of those actions – https://www.facebook.com/uvwunion/videos/1312818212119748/.
It has now come to our attention that our efforts have paid off and Richard Seddon has finally been removed from the LSE contract. In the meantime we are taking Noonan to an Employment Tribunal in which we expect a declaration to be made that Noonan have victimised, harassed and discriminated against Sam for being gay. In light of this case and other matters the LSE should seriously consider its relationship with Noonan
Please consider making a donation to LSE cleaners’ strike fund – http://www.uvwunion.org.uk/justiceforlsecleaners/
Website: www.uvwunion.org.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/uvwunion Twitter: @UVWunion
Other News
International Workers Memorial Day (April 28) and May Day are coming up over the next weeks – send us your event and we’ll publicise it. Here are events in London, South and East of England (SERTUC)
Support the Irish anti-water charge protestors who are facing trial for a protest in Jobstown. Join the protest outside the Irish Embassy in London on the first day of the trial on Monday April 24th at 2pm – 7 Grosvenor Pl, Belgravia SW1X 7HR
Please send messages of protest: https://sites.google.com/view/jobstownnotguilty/ https://www.facebook.com/Jobstown-Not-Guilty-1056889327677242/
Blacklisting & Victimisation
Buy the book ‘Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big Business and Union Activists’ Author: Dave Smith and Phil Chamberlain. Blacklisted tells the controversial story of the illegal strategies that transnational construction companies used to keep union activists away from work.
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)
Blacklist Support Group update – 30th March 2017
- #spycops
Blacklisted workers were kept under surveillance by big business but also by the British state who exchanged information with major employers. BSG are among the core participants in the Pitchford public inquiry into undercover policing and will therefore be attending the protest at the next hearing:
Protest at undercover policing public inquiry hearing – all welcome
9am Wed 5th April 2017 Royal Courts of Justice The Strand
The police have confirmed the name of another undercover police officer who spied on activists during the 1980s. His real name is Roger Pearce and he is now a writer but his assumed name was ROGER THORLEY. Which campaigns he infiltrated is so far unknown. Does anyone recognize or remember him? Photo attached
http://powerbase.info/index.php/Roger_Pearce
Police admit to hacking activists emails & targeting Make Poverty History – oh and if you retire, they will drop all investigations of destroying evidence (apparently)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39341020
- BSG Solidarity action:
Orgreave
We made some noise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKAAVgM0cqA
Pix: https://www.facebook.com/paul.rutland.94/media_set?set=a.1245970435499805&type=3
Don’t Buy The S*n
Blacklist Support Group together with the construction rank & file have paid for a Liverpool taxi to be covered in Don’t Buy The S*n livery – we are very proud to support such a worthwhile campaign and big thank you to Mo for allowing his taxi to be used. Photo attached.
Durham TAs
BSG were represented on the Durham TAs Day of Solidarity
background: http://shopstewards.net/2017/03/nssn-333-teaching-assistants-still-fighting-in-derby-and-durham/
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/familiesagainstblacklist/
Jobstown Not Guilty
BSG are supporting anti-water charge activists in Ireland facing jail for a peaceful protest – including a 17 year old school student and Paul Murphy TD
https://sites.google.com/view/jobstownnotguilty/
Ferrybridge power station walkout
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-39427982
New Internationalist
‘Blacklisted’ book was controversial and we received multiple legal threats prior to publication. The only publishers we could find who were prepared to take the risk were New Internationalist (NI), who have subsequently worked in collaboration with the BSG at political events in the Westminster and Holyrood parliament and were sponsors of our two day conference at the University of Greenwich last September.
New Internationalist are a coop who have been publishing their well respected magazine for decades and also publish a series of books. Following the success of Blacklisted, NI have now set up a new trade union imprint and will be publishing more books aimed at a union audience. In order to survive in the current economic climate, NI have decided to offer their readers the chance to buy shares in the coop. So far Desmund Tutu, John Pilger, Emma Thompson, Jarvis Cocker and Billy Bragg among others have supported the cause. This is the video (you might recognize some of the people and some of the books): https://youtu.be/eOO7ZuNkHUY
- Tories promise legislation against blacklisting of NHS whistleblowers – activists are not impressed
- Dates for the diary
Crossrail prosecution over death of Rene Tkacik
silent vigil – Westminster magistrates court
Wednesday 12th of April at 2pm
nearest tube Edgware Road NW1 5BR
organized by Construction Safety Campaign supported by London Hazards Centre
International Workers Memorial Day
28th April 2017
Remember the Dead – Fight for the Living http://28april.org
Bristol – with Phil Chamberlain – https://network23.org/bristolhazardsgroup/
Book http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
Donate to ReelNews – http://reelnews.co.uk/donationssubscriptions/
International
Yemen: Successful international day of action against TOTAL – Protests around the world on March 31 showed solidarity with Yemeni workers, victims of exploitation and gangsterism by TOTAL and G4S read more
Diary
2017
July
1 11th annual NSSN Conference 11am in Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
