NSSN 390: Support the USDAW Dagenham Tesco strike

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NSSN 390: Support the USDAW Dagenham Tesco strike

Workers at Tesco Dagenham distribution site are striking over pay from 10pm on Thursday 17 May. Following over a year of negotiations between Tesco and the retail and distribution workers’ union USDAW, bosses have refused to improve their initial offer which was worth less than 3%

USDAW contingent on May 12th TUC demo led by National President Amy Murphy
USDAW contingent on May 12th TUC demo led by National President Amy Murphy

Simon Vincent, an USDAW rep at the site says: “Our members work in temperatures one degree above freezing with difficult performance targets. Many are agency workers and 53 of them left in April alone as they simply cannot live on the wages offered. They feel exploited, underpaid and overworked.”

Tesco announced in April that pre-tax profits for the year ending 24 February were a huge £1.3 billion – up from £145 million the previous year. As Simon points out this is “not about Tesco’s ability to pay, it’s about their refusal to pay. Another Tesco depot just five miles up the road pay their staff £1.30 an hour more than in Dagenham.”

The money is clearly there. Yet Tesco have slashed terms and conditions, premiums and jobs in stores and call centres in recent years. Striking back against these attacks and for better pay is absolutely correct and necessary and new USDAW president, NSSN supporter Amy Murphy was elected with support for industrial action one of her main policies.

USDAW TUC demo May 12 2018

Picket lines are at 10pm on 17 May and then 6am and 2pm on 18 May. Simon says: “We would love to see retail, distribution and the wider trade union movement come to our picket line and support our members and show solidarity.” The NSSN sends solidarity and urges everyone who can to attend picket lines and show support on social media.

Turnout in the ballot was over 70% with 63% voting in favour of industrial action and further strikes could follow.

Send messages of support to [email protected]

Article by Scott Jones – USDAW East London retail C026 chair (personal capacity)

 

 

Come to two international solidarity protests today Wednesday May 15th outside Downing Street in London:-

Protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – 10am-5pm

Protest – Gaza: Stop the Massacre 5.30pm to 7pm

 

 

 

NSSN news

NSSN Conference moved to Saturday July 7th – support the June 30th NHS 70th anniversary events

The NSSN steering committee has decided to put our annual conference back a week to avoid a clash of dates with a national day of action to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS on June 30th. We will do all we can to build these protests against continuing Tory health cuts.

The 2018 National Shop Stewards Network Annual Conference will be from 11am-4.30pm on Saturday July 7th in Conway Hall – 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. The attendance fee is £6 and it is open to all trade union and anti-cuts campaigners. Affiliation letter and conference appeal letter is here      Facebook event

Conference_first_flyer

We also want to give advanced notice that once again we will be organising a rally at TUC Congress. This year it will be in Manchester on Sunday September 9th.

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

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]

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Follow us on twitter via @NSSN_AntiCuts and Facebook

 

  

 

Union News

RMT

RMT confirms further strike action on Northern Rail in fight over guards and rail safety (10 May) – RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that further strike action will be taking place on Arriva Rail North over attacks on the role of the safety-critical guard and the extension of Driver Only Operation in the name of increased profits. ‎All Arriva Rail North Conductor, Conductor Instructor and Train Driver members are instructed to take action as follows: Not to book on for any shifts between 0001 hours and 2359 hours on Thursday 24th May 2018; Not to book on for any shifts between 0001 hours and 2359 hours on Saturday 26th May 2018 read more

RMT strike action rock solid (9 May) – RMT strike action rock solid on Northern Rail and Greater Anglia this morning in fight for rail safety. RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said; “RMT members on Northern Rail and Greater Anglia stand rock solid and united once again this morning in separate disputes which are ‎about putting public safety and access before private profit on our railways read more

National dispute fund (DOO disputes) – If you would like to donate to the RMT National Dispute Fund which makes payments to support their striking members taking part in National DOO disputes then you can donate via PayPal using the donate button below or make a cheque payable to RMT National Dispute Fund and send it to the address below. Alternatively, you can ring their Freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706 who will be happy to process a credit card payment for you, or, if you would like to pay via internet banking, please email [email protected] for further details. Vicky Thompson, Finance Manager RMT, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel: 020-7529-8843

 

Unite

National Construction Rank & File meeting – 12.30pm Saturday 19 May Unite the Union, Jack Jones House, 2 Churchill Way, Liverpool L3 8EF

Support striking Hackney traffic wardens – The issuing of parking tickets have been disrupted in Hackney, east London, after the borough’s traffic wardens have taken two days of strike action this week in a dispute over pay. Nearly 40 wardens, also known as civil enforcement officers (CEOs), have been on strike for 48 hours from 00:01 on Monday 14 May, after voting by 100 per cent for industrial action read more

Messages of support for the strikers can be sent to [email protected]

We also need financial donations. Cheques made payable to Hackney Unite and sent to Onay Kasab at 33 – 37 Moreland St, London EC1V 8BB.

Messages of protest to the Mayor of Hackney ( APCOA run the contract for Hackney Council) and also to the Head of Parking and Markets, 136 – 142 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, E5 OQJ

Luton Airport faces severe disruption as workers vote for strike action (11 May) – Unite is urging employers at London Luton Airport to return to the negotiating table to avoid severe disruption over the Bank Holiday after workers voted for strike action in a series of strike ballots over ‘paltry’ pay and zero hours’ contracts. The ballot result means severe disruption to Luton Airport’s operations between 7.00am on Friday 25 May through to 6.30 am on Wednesday 30 May read more

Unite accuses East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust of seeking to erode staff pay with outsourcing plan (9 May) – Britain’s largest union Unite warned that a plan by East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust to outsource 250 direct employees and transfer 850 Serco staff into a new wholly owned subsidiary company, was a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ that would lead to the erosion of staff pay, terms and conditions. Staff working in hospitals in Ashford, Canterbury, Dover and Margate across jobs in support services, including estates, portering, catering, cleaning, laundry and health and safety were told of the plan today (Wednesday 9 May) read more

First ever strikes over £250 wage grab herald summer of disruption at TGI Friday’s – Workers at TGI Friday’s restaurants in Milton Keynes (Stadium) and Covent Garden, London take their first ever strike action on Friday 18 May in a dispute over tips and minimum wage abuses which could cost waiting staff £250 a month in lost wages. The workers, members of Unite voted by 100 per cent, on a 75 per cent turnout to walk out. The American dining chain, which has 81 restaurants in the UK, will be hit with a series of 24 hour strikes starting on Friday 18 May and continuing over consecutive Friday’s during the summer. The dispute arose when the company introduced a new tipping policy with only two days’ notice which would see money earned by the waiting staff redirected to top up the low wages of kitchen staff, a move driven by the need to stop the high turnover of kitchen staff.  The move means waiting staff can lose up to £65 per week from their wage packets. With industrial action ballots at four more restaurants currently underway, and more planned, the restaurant chain is facing a summer of major disruption as the chain’s world-class waiters and waitresses stop work. The ballot results of workers at TGI Friday’s restaurants in the Trafford Centre, Manchester and Haymarket in London Piccadilly are due on Friday 11 May 2018, with the vote by workers at two restaurants in Gateshead Metro Newcastle and in Enfield, greater London closing on Friday 18 May 2018 read more

Support Ian Allinson: Protesters accuse Fujitsu of victimising whistleblowers read more. Keep up to date with Unite: Our union in Fujitsu website. Protest Fujitsu at HR Directors’ Dinner Thursday at 17:30–19:00 Eversheds, One Wood Street, London EC2V 7WS Facebook event

United We Organise! Unite Housing Campaign – 6pm June 14 Unite HQ, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8SP Facebook event

 

PCS

Good support for Acas conciliator strike (11 May) – There has been good support for a strike by PCS members working as conciliators at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service taking action today (11) to protect their jobs and services. The 24-hour action takes place despite attempts to resolve the dispute with members who have been taking action short of strike since 25 April. Talks have been ongoing since July last year and PCS members plan to take two more days on 6-7 June if the dispute remains unresolved read more Email your message of support to [email protected] and [email protected]. Use the hashtag #NoAcasCuts. Donate to the PCS Fighting Fund to support members taking action

PCS prisons report launched in parliament (10 May) – PCS successfully launched our Alternative Vision for Prisons report in Parliament yesterday (Wednesday 9 May) with a cross-section of MPs in attendance. The report uses the experience of our members who work as instructional officers (IOs) in prisons to make recommendations about how prisons can best support offenders to turn their lives around.

 

13 MPs came along to the briefing which was attended by PCS assistant general secretary, Chris Baugh and IO reps from the HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) branch read more

Museum staff receive support in Parliament (10 May) – Our campaign to secure the future of ex-Carillion staff at the British Museum received the backing of MPs at a public meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was organised by PCS to highlight the impact of cuts and privatisation at our national museums and galleries. The latest example of the failure of privatisation was the collapse of Carillion which has left around 100 facilities management and cleaning services staff who work at the British Museum facing an uncertain future and being paid by the receivers. The Museum has so far kept the union and our members in the dark about their plans. PCS is calling for all staff to be brought back in-house and are seeking urgent talks with British Museum management to seek protection for our members’ jobs, pensions and terms and conditions. The meeting was chaired by PCS president, Janice Godrich and was addressed by members of the opposition frontbench and the PCS parliamentary group read more

Campaign for ex-Carillion staff to be brought in-house at the British Museum Sign our online petition

 

NEU

Taking action to stop teacher shortages in London (10 May) – Every parent, every member of staff already knows that Government cuts are damaging our schools. £2.8 BN has been stolen nationally since 2015. A borough like Waltham Forest is set to lose nearly £10M alone in real terms cuts by 2020. Cuts mean fewer resources and fewer staff. That means worse education for children and greater workload for teachers. But it also means lower pay

Support the strikes at Connaught School in Waltham Forest read more

 

BFAWU

Support the McDonalds strikers who took their 2nd day of action on May 1stKeep sending solidarity to the BFAWU, post cheques to BFAWU, Stanborough House, Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7TA and donate to the strike fund. Also help the fund by buying a #McStrike t-shirt. More info on the Fast Food Rights/Hungry for Justice website

 

UCU

UCU members start new wave of FE strikes over pay and jobs – read here for information about strikes at Hull, Tower Hamlets College, Hackney Community College, Epping Forest College, Lambeth College, Lewisham Southwark College, City and Islington College (CCG), College of Haringey Enfield and North East London (CCG), Westminster Kingsway College (CCG) and Havering College

Sandwell College strikes called off as pay talks progress (14 May) – Strike action at Sandwell College due to begin tomorrow (Tuesday) has been called off following progress in pay talks. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the college were due to walk out for four days this week in a row over pay, having already taken five days of strike action since February. However, positive discussions with the college management on pay have led to an agreement in principle, which is expected to be signed off by both sides tomorrow. UCU has therefore called off the strike action ahead of tomorrow’s meeting read more

Staff at Hull College Group to walk out over job cuts read more.   Messages of support to Dave Langcaster via email [email protected].

Rally and march in protest over Coventry University Group’s ‘sham union’ (14 May) – University and college staff from across the country will take part in a rally and march on Wednesday over the Coventry University Group’s use of a ‘sham union’ to deny employees proper trade union representation. Protesters will assemble for a 3pm rally at Broadgate in Coventry city centre, before marching to lobby a meeting of the university board of governors at 4pm in the Alan Berry Building of Coventry University’s main campus. Speakers at the Broadgate rally will include University and College Union (UCU) vice-president Douglas Chalmers, UCU vice-president elect Nita Sanghera, Jane Nellist from the Coventry Trade Union Council and Labour councillor Kindy Sandhu read more

Sign this petition to stop the anti-union dirty tricks in the Coventry University Group – We the undersigned condemn the management of the CU Group, a subsidiary company of Coventry University, who have sought to block UCU from applying for recognition by setting up a company union and recognising it

 

TSSA

TSSA suspends Cup Final Day strike in ScotRail in goodwill gesture (13 May) – TSSA has today suspended the planned strike action over imposing night shifts in ScotRail’s CCTV department on Saturday 19th May – Cup Final Day to allow further talks with the company to go ahead read more

 

Unison

Solidarity with Kirklees Bin Workers! Rally (Huddersfield TUC) – 7pm Tuesday May 22 Huddersfield Mission, 3-13 Lord Street, HD1 1QA Huddersfield Facebook event

Support Hull recycling workers striking for sick pay – Branch appeals for donations to hardship fund as workers start two weeks on the picket line for sick pay from international company worth hundreds of millions. Recycling workers working for FCC Environment in Hull are striking again from May 1st-14th for decent pay sick pay, and are asking for donations to their hardship fund. Please send messages of solidarity and financial support to the Wilmington Strikers c/o Adrian Kennett Hull City UNISON 39, Alfred Gelder Street, Hull HU1 2AG. Please make cheques payable to UNISON Hull City Branch read more

Sign petition: Support sacked NHS Midwife Jane Greaves

Sign petition: End victimisation of trade unionists at Belle Vue Buses in Manchester

Support the Birmingham Homecare Workers read more on Birmingham Unison website Facebook page

 

POA

Prison officers take legal action over pensions – The POA has started the process of initiating Employment Tribunal proceedings which will challenge the introduction of a new pension scheme for Prison Officers in 2015. It is anticipated that more than 3,500 POA members will join in the proceedings read more

 

FBU

Firefighters mark 25 years since the death of hero colleague Michael Hill (9 May) – A memorial ceremony has taken place at Willesden fire station to mark the 25th anniversary of the death of hero firefighter Michael Hill. Firefighters were joined by Hill’s father, sister and widow for a minute’s silence at noon before a memorial garden on the station was officially unveiled after a recent refurbishment. David Hill, Michael’s father, laid a wreath provided by the Fire Brigades Union in the garden. Afterwards, small reception was held by members of the on-duty green watch read more

Firefighters in the West Midlands to ballot for strike action – Firefighters and emergency control operators in the West Midlands will ballot for strike action in an escalating row over the imposition of new contracts, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said on April 25th. Contracts introduced by West Midlands Fire Authority mean new firefighters entering the service will have to take on work outside the agreed role of a firefighter. The contracts would allow the employer to unilaterally change the work of firefighters at any time breaching nationally negotiated agreements with the union. The FBU has demanded the contracts be withdrawn immediately. The news comes amid growing tensions between firefighters and the fire authority over a number of issues including the imposition of non-fire service work, dictatorial management practices and interference with day to day trade union activities. Union reps have been threatened with discipline for conducting health and safety investigations as they are entitled to do under the law. Andrew Scattergood, chair of the FBU in the West Midlands, said: “The new contracts give management an unhealthy amount of power to dictate the work firefighters do. The so-called ‘Labour led’ fire authority is creating a two-tier workforce between those who are contracted to do any work and those who have contracts that the public would expect a firefighter to have. It is a classic divide and conquer strategy…”

Sign petition: Stop West Midlands Firefighters being taken away from the frontline! #FiredUp

 

NUJ/BECTU

Unions secure significant pay offer at Al Jazeera (11 May) – BECTU and NUJ negotiators have secured a significant pay offer for workers at Al Jazeera following four years of pay freezes read more

 

BECTU

BECTU backs US writers’ union in dispute with ITV (2 May) – Members of BECTU and the Writers Guild of America East will be joining forces next Thursday 10 May in a protest at the ITV Shareholders’ Meeting in central London read more

Support the Picturehouse workers and sacked reps – Read the latest on Brixton Ritzy Facebook Page and those of Hackney, Crouch End, Central, Dulwich East and Duke of York Brighton

Donate to the Picturehouse Cinema strike fund: https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/campaigns/250/picturehousestrike

 

IWGB

University outsourced workers announce further industrial action after historic strike on 6 June (15 May) – University of London workers organised by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) are to go on strike on 6 June, following the biggest-ever strike of outsourced workers in UK higher education history. Over 100 cleaners, porters, security officers, receptionists, gardeners, postroom staff and audiovisual staff are expected to walk out. This follows two days of strike action last month. The protests in support of the strikes were attended by hundreds of people, including Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP, Shadow Minister for Labour Laura Pidcock MP and musician Billy Bragg. Solidarity rally: 5.30pm Senate House, University of London, WC1E 7HU London Facebook event

 

United Voices of the World

The cleaners at Kensington and Chelsea town halls – all of whom are migrant workers and members of UVW – are set to strike for the London Living Wage of £10.20 per hour. They are currently only paid the minimum, poverty wage of £7.83 per hour. Stay tuned for strike dates and solidarity actions! Once again low paid migrant and precarious workers are taking the fight to the bosses! www.facebook.com/uvwunion

 

 

Other news

Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) Annual General Meeting 2018

Saturday 26th May, 2pm – 4pm, at the NEU/NUT Headquarters, Hamilton House, Mabledon Pl, London WC1H 9BD

SPOT was launched in March 2014, following the Gezi Park uprisings in Turkey during the summer of 2013. Since then as events in Turkey have unfolded and intensified, SPOT (supported by Trade Unions and campaign groups in the UK) has actively supported the struggle of the people of Turkey through every means possible, including sending delegations to Turkey, press releases, awareness raising campaigns, conferences, petitions and public demonstrations. The SPOT Network not only aims to strengthen the struggle of the people of Turkey but also to provide opportunities for learning and sharing between Turkey and the UK. We are confident that solidarity between the people of Turkey and England will strengthen the struggle for fundamental freedoms and democracy in both countries. With your support, our AGM will aim to strengthen and develop this purpose. Affiliate to SPOT by using this model motion

 

 

 

Blacklisting & Victimisation

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)

Unite: Undercover Police Inquiry: Justice delayed is justice denied (10 May) – Unite described today’s (Thursday 10 May) revelation that the inquiry into undercover policing will not deliver its final report to the home secretary until 2023 as ‘denying justice’ to the victims. The delay to the inquiry will mean that it will not be completed until eight years after it was first established. It was originally due to complete its work this year, but it has not yet even begun to take evidence. Even the date of submitting the final report in December 2023 has been described as ‘ambitious’. While much of the focus of the inquiry has been on how undercover police officers formed sexual relationships with women who were unaware of their true identity, the inquiry is also examining how undercover police officers infiltrated unions and other organisations. Unite has core participant status at the inquiry as a result of construction union Ucatt (now part of Unite) having been infiltrated by undercover officers.

Blacklisting link

The latest delay in the inquiry is also significant regarding the campaign against blacklisting. In March this year the Metropolitan Police was forced to finally admit that undercover police officers supplied information on workers to the Consulting Association, which blacklisted construction workers. Despite this admission the Metropolitan Police has said that it does not intend to take any further action until after the Undercover Police Inquiry has completed its work and made its final report read more

Blacklisted t-shirts available at: https://shop.hopenothate.org.uk/component/hikashop/product/78-blacklisted-t-shirt

Book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

 

 

 

International

China’s teachers follow their American colleagues out on strike

read more

 

Diary

 

2018

May

 

June

30 NHS 70th anniversary rally

 

July

7 National Shop Stewards Network 2018 Annual Conference 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London

 

September

9 NSSN TUC Rally in Manchester

 

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