This week, we headline our bulletin with the strike on October 22-23 by 8,000 workers in Unison and the GMB in Glasgow City Council. The NSSN gives our full support and solidarity to the workers and their unions.
This is the Unison statement:-
Thousands of Glasgow’s women march for equal pay (23 October 2018)
Thousands of Glasgow’s women took to the streets today (Tuesday) to demand Glasgow City Council resolve the long-standing pay injustice.
Around 10,000 home carers, cleaners, caterers, school workers and other council staff marched together to George Square to demand equal pay. This is the first day of a 48-hour strike and is the largest of its kind since the Equal Pay Act was introduced.
UNISON regional organiser Mandy McDowall said: “These women have faced more than ten years of discrimination and delay and to see thousands taking to the streets today to fight for equal pay shows the strength of feeling among Glasgow’s women.
“The reason behind today’s strike is not to convince Glasgow City Council of the need for equality – we’ve already won the legal case. But in the last ten months, since the council made the commitment to settle the equal pay dispute and deliver on pay equality, the council has offered only meetings about meetings, talks about talks, missed deadlines and no counter proposals.
“Today the women of Glasgow sent a loud and powerful message to Glasgow City Council – the time for talking is over and now we demand action.”
UNISON branch chair Mary Dawson said: “These women are the cogs that keep our city turning – cleaning, caring, educating and looking after some of the city’s most vulnerable people – and they have not taken the decision to strike lightly. Yet despite the vital services they provide, their roles are still chronically undervalued. It’s time Glasgow City Council took action to resolve this long-standing injustice so these women can continue to provide the services we all rely upon.”
Speaking at the rally, UNISON’s assistant general secretary Christina McAnea, said: “Today our whole union stands with Glasgow. Together we have taken the fight to the courts and to the streets. Councillors have come and gone but our demands for equal pay have remained the same. The dedication to the cause of UNISON members has been incredible, and it’s been matched by the incredible strength shown by those taking action today.”
GMB: Glasgow’s Striking Equal Pay Women to March for Justice
Watch video by PSI Global Union
The two-day strike continues today with pickets throughout Glasgow.
Strike fund donations to:
UNITY Trust
Sort code 60 83 01 A/c Number 20275789
Drew Rigden Treasurer UNISON Glasgow City Branch
84 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LQTel: 0141-552-7069
read more from Glasgow City Unison Facebook page
NSSN news
Video of NSSN TUC Rally on September 9th: ‘General Election to get Tories out!’
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Union News
RMT
RMT action solid across all depots in South Western Railway strike as company continues to refuse serious talks (23 Oct) – On the first of five days of action in the latest phase of strikes on South Western Railway over the threat to axe guards and roll out driver only operation rail union RMT said that members are solidly supporting the dispute across the length and breadth of the franchise. RMT members on South Western Railway working as Commercial Guards, Guards and Train Drivers are instructed to not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
- 0001 Hours on Tuesday 23rd October 2018 and 2359 Hours on Saturday 27th October 2018
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 3rd November 2018
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 10th November 2018
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 17th November 2018
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 24th November 2018 read more
NSSN supporters across the Southern region held a successful day of action last Saturday in solidarity with the South Western Railway strike
RMT members united and determined again this morning on 32nd day of strike action in fight for safety-critical guards on Northern Rail trains (20 Oct) – General Secretary Mick Cash said; “RMT members are standing united and determined again this morning on Northern Rail on the 32nd day of action in the continuing fight for safety, security and access on our trains. Their resilience is a credit to the trade union movement and the communities that they serve. “We are angry and frustrated that the company continue to refuse genuine talks that could work out a deal that underpins the guard guarantee and which matches the best practice across the rail industry. All RMT Arriva Rail North Conductor, Conductor Instructor and Train Driver members are instructed to not to book on are for any shifts that commence between:-
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 27th October 2018
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 3rd November 2018
- 0001 Hours and 2359 Hours on Saturday 10th November 2018 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 read more
RMT Arriva Rail North Dispute Fund – As you know, our guard members employed by Arriva Rail North have been taking strike action for nearly two years now in defence of the safety critical role of the guard. This strike action has been brilliantly supported but obviously has caused financial hardship for many of our members. The National Executive Committee has made some payments to our members via our National Dispute Fund, but has now asked me to write to all members inviting them if at all possible to contribute to the Arriva Rail North Dispute Fund. This Fund has been specifically set up for these members. Donations can be made as follows:
Account number: 20398721 Sort Code: 60-83-01
Please use your name/organisation name as payment reference or make a cheque payable to RMT National Dispute Fund and send it to the address below or payments can be made by phone via our RMT Helpline 0800 376 3706.
Vicky Thompson, Finance Manager, RMT, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD 020-7529-8843 read more
RMT announces 24 hours of strike action on Central Line over breakdown in industrial relations and abuse of procedures (Oct 24) – Tube union RMT today confirmed 24 hours of strike action on London Underground’s Central Line over a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations, a failure to employ enough drivers, a wholesale abuse of agreed procedures and the victimisation of a trade union member. As a result of a total management failure to address the issues RMT has announced the following drivers’ action:
Not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
- 00:01 hours and 23:59 hours on Wednesday 7th November 2018 read more
RMT hails campaign success today after London TravelWatch forced to postpone decision on Overground ticket offices (23 Oct) – RAIL UNION RMT’s campaign to save 51 London Overground ticket offices has seen initial victory today after London Travelwatch was forced to postpone a post-consultation decision citing receipt over 7500 responses as “unprecedented and overwhelming”. While welcoming the news the union has made it clear that it is not the end of the matter and that the campaign will carry on until the closures are halted once and for all. Due to the volume of responses London TravelWatch has deferred “a decision on this item until further analysis of the questionnaire and other correspondence used in the consultation has been completed.” Earlier this month the union handed in postcards and a written submission to London TravelWatch alongside campaigners who handed in a petition, all protesting over the proposed closure of the ticket offices. The formal consultation was launched by Arriva Rail London (ARL) and Transport for London (TfL) read more
RMT announces dispute with P&O Dover over attack on sickness procedures (19 Oct) – MARITIME UNION RMT has announced that it is in dispute with P&O Dover after it unilaterally imposed and refused to withdraw a new sickness procedure. The union wrote to P&O asking the company to withdraw their sickness toolkit policy until such time as a formal agreement can be agreed over sickness absence issues. The union’s reasonable request for meaningful talks has been ignored and the company has failed to withdraw the sickness toolkit policy read more
Piccadilly Line tube drivers to strike again in long-running dispute over breakdown in industrial relations – TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that driver members on the Piccadilly Line will strike again next month in a long-running dispute over the breakdown of industrial relations following the latest phase of action last month which shut the line down for the duration. Members will take action by not booking on for any turns of duty as follows;
Between 12:00 hours on Wednesday 7th November 2018 and 12:00 hours on Thursday 8th November 2018 read more
PCS
BREAKING NEWS!! High Court judgement confirms the farce of delegation (24 Oct) – PCS is disappointed to learn our joint judicial review application on the pay remit guidance consultation with the FDA and Prospect has failed. As a result, we are demanding a meeting with the government’s chief people officer, Rupert McNeil, to address matters arising from the judgement. Following the publication of the 2018 Treasury pay remit guidance, the document that determines the pay of workers in the Civil Service and its related areas, PCS, alongside FDA and Prospect, launched a Judicial Review application of the process followed by the government. The High Court has today handed down its judgment read more
PCS wins £3million check-off compensation (16 Oct) – PCS has achieved a major victory over the government as the High Court has ruled that ministers acted illegally by withdrawing check-off, the decades-old practice of collecting members’ union subscriptions directly from their pay packet. Our union has won £3 million from the government because of the illegal moves the Department for Work and Pensions took to try and smash PCS. In 2015 we were at the heart of opposition to the government, fighting against the government’s cuts and closures, robbing members of their redundancy rights and we were fighting to end austerity. As a result the then Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude took a particularly vicious decision to attack members’ terms and conditions, attack our reps and try to bankrupt us by overnight announcing that he would not allow our members to pay their union subscriptions directly from your pay packet. A system that had been in operation for many decades. He did that because he knew that 90% of our income came from that method. In a magnificent campaign we signed up over 160,000 members to pay their subs by direct debit in a matter of weeks and months to stop us from going bankrupt and to ensure we could continue to represent members at work. We also took legal action in the High Court to show that the government had acted illegally and to get compensation. Today that case has been settled and in a humiliating defeat for the government, in its attempt to smash PCS and other unions in the public sector, it has to pay £3 million compensation and all of our legal costs read more
More Unison
Hospital workers celebrate as iFM Bolton agrees to pay NHS rates in full (22 Oct) – Cleaners, catering staff, porters and security staff employed by iFM – the wholly-owned subsidiary company of the Royal Bolton NHS Trust – are now to receive full NHS pay rates after taking strike action. Facilities staff are among the hospital employees celebrating the agreement, which will see their minimum wage rate increase from £7.83 to £8.95 immediately, and reach £9.92 by the end of 2020. The pay rise will be backdated to April. It’s worth some £2,000 this year for the lowest paid, rising to over £4,000 a year for full-time staff by 2020 read more
Support the striking Birmingham homecare workers – Please send messages of support and donations to Unison Birmingham branch, 46 The Priory Queensway Birmingham B4 7LR. Email [email protected] Facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/birminghamunison/
Grimethorpe primary school dinner ladies go on permanent strike – Dinner ladies have gone on permanent strike in a dispute over plans to axe their jobs. Ladywood Primary School, in Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire, has proposed that teaching assistants would supervise meals to save cash. It wants to make all nine school meals supervisory assistant roles redundant which has resulted in six days of strikes by Unison union members read more
Support Camden NSL workers – Camden UNISON members working for private company NSL as traffic wardens recently took 5 days of strike action as part of their fight for decent pay. They are asking for £11.15 an hour, an amount that Camden UNISON believes is very reasonable particularly when the top director at NSL gets over £320 an hour. For updates about the dispute and to send messages of support, contact [email protected] read more on Camden Unison website
Unite
BREAKING NEWS!! Strike threat to Hackney school run for disabled children in split shift pay row (24 Oct) – Strike action is on cards over the lack of split shift payments for Hackney drivers and escorts who take disabled children to and from school, Unite the union has warned. Unite members, employed by Hackney council’s learning trust, have voted by 100 per cent for strike action over the council bosses’ refusal to discuss the split shift payment, as outlined in the National Joint Council For Local Government Services agreement. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “The dispute is about the employer’s refusal to even discuss a pay claim we have made for our 32 members to compensate them for working split shifts. We want the claim backdated to April 2018 and updated each year going forward read more
Ineos workforce in massive ‘yes’ vote to Unite recognition at Grangemouth (23 Oct) – Unite the union has today (23 October) confirmed that the workforce in Ineos Chemicals and Infrastructure has voted to support the restoration of collective bargaining. The ballot was won on an 83 per cent ‘yes’ vote on an overall 78 per cent turnout. Unite and Ineos mutually agreed to a recognition agreement ballot vote following productive negotiations. The vote commenced on the 1 October and concluded on 21 October. The Grangemouth complex is considered Scotland’s most important industrial site contributing four per cent of Scottish GDP and approximately eight per cent of Scotland’s manufacturing base. The opportunity for Unite to be recognised at Ineos is a substantial improvement on the previous position where there were no collective bargaining rights, leaving the workforce without a trade union to negotiate on their behalf. Unite believes this result can provide the platform to allow the union to play a constructive role at Grangemouth, as well as re-establishing its ability to collectively negotiate wages on behalf of the entire Ineos workforce read more
Chesterfield toilet paper maker in bum deal following axing of free loo rolls (23 Oct) – Unite, which represents workers throughout the paper industry, is preparing to ballot its members at Sidcot paper mill in Chesterfield in a dispute over pay. The company, which produces toilet and kitchen rolls, had offered a 1.5 per cent pay increase, significantly below the current rate of inflation. The Sidcot Group bought the mill from SCA. One of the first actions of the new management was to stop supplying staff with a small amount of free toilet and kitchen paper; a move which left the workforce flushed with anger. Sidcot’s company director and chief executive officer Nigel Samuels has attempted to justify the below inflation pay offer by pleading poverty and “challenging trading conditions”. However he has further angered the workforce by visiting the site in a new Aston Martin which they have estimated cost in the region of £250,000. The workforce rejected the pay offer in a consultative ballot, which recorded a 100 per cent turnout, with 95 per cent of workers rejecting the offer and the same percentage supporting taking industrial action. Unite will now swiftly move forward with a full industrial action ballot and if members vote for strike action, stoppages could begin before the end of the year read more
Unite seeks urgent talks over ‘down-manning’ of union reps at Culzean (18 Oct) – Unite the union has today (18 October) requested urgent talks regarding the treatment of elected trade union representatives for Bilfinger on the Culzean offshore hook-up project. Unite representatives were scheduled to report for pre-mobilisation training ahead of the normal three week rotation on the Culzean. However, the day before travel the reps were informed that Total had requested they be ‘down-manned’ from the Culzean. The Unite reps had raised a range of concerns on the Culzean including a claim for a bonus. Last week, a consultative ballot showed 100 per cent support for industrial action on a turnout of 81 per cent in pursuit of a fair bonus scheme. An internal investigation at Bilfinger is also pending following Unite raising concerns about members being allegedly threatened with Not Required Back (NRB) read more
Twelve days of strikes start at Derbyshire crane firm in pay dispute – The first industrial action at a leading Derbyshire crane manufacturer Street Crane for 20 years has started as the company has been unwilling to engage in constructive pay talks…The first of the 24 hour stoppages is scheduled to start at 00.01 on Monday (15 October) and followed by strikes on 22 and 29 October and 5 November. If the dispute is not settled by then, four 48 hour stoppages will go ahead on 12, 19 and 26 November and 3 December, all commencing at 00:01 read more
Support striking workers at at Prysmian Cables & Systems in Eastleigh, Hampshire – there have been 24 hour stoppages on 26 September and 3 and 10 October, with further strikes, already announced, for 17 October. A work to rule started on 25 September, including an overtime ban read more Email messages of support and solidarity to [email protected]
More GMB
Unions stage mass rally to save Appledore shipyard (Oct 23) – We will not accept the deindustrialisation of our community, and we have already lost far too many skilled well-paid jobs say the unions. Shipbuilding unions GMB and Unite are staging a mass rally in a bid to save Appeldore shipyard. Reports this week suggest a final decision to close Appledore Shipyard could be made by Babcock at a board meeting in November. GMB and Unite and are calling on everyone who supports a future for the yard, and for British shipbuilding and manufacturing in general, to support the protest.
The rally takes places as follows:
10.30am Saturday October 27, Jubilee Square, Bidford
At 11.00am members of the public and unions will march to Victoria Park, where there will be a rally in support of the yard at 11.30am read more
GMB members walk out at NASUWT sites across the country today (17 Oct) – As a last resort, GMB members have taken industrial action in Bury St Edmunds, London, Newcastle, Birmingham, Rednal and Exeter. GMB members working for NASUWT Union have taken strike action at sites across the country today…Two further strikes will take place on November 5 and November 9 after members voted decisively on a high per turn out [77.6% turnout 87.6% in favour of strike]. The strike is because of changes to the pension scheme and the pay deal which were both imposed without the agreement of our members read more
CWU
Young Workers Kick Off The Save The Post Office Campaign In Style (Oct 19) – The CWU’s annual Young Workers Education Event took place over the weekend and attracted over 70 people who participated in workshops, debates and discussions covering a wide variety of subjects read more
POA
POA Wins right to trial over negotiation dispute (19 Oct) – The POA today agreed a deal with their Employer which forced plans for an imposition of new job roles to be placed on hold pending an expedited trial. Prior to the hearing HMPPS made an offer to the POA to place on hold their plans to impose plans for new job roles which affect terms and conditions. If they had gone ahead with the hearing there was a chance that the POA would have gained an injunction read more
UCU
Trade union laws frustrate national support for strike action on pay (22 Oct) – The University and College Union (UCU) has criticised trade union laws for frustrating the wishes of members who voted for strike action over pay. In ballots which closed on Friday (19 October), 85% of members in further education colleges who voted said they would back strike action, while over two-thirds (69%) of members in universities who voted did so in favour of strike action. However restrictive trade union laws mean that, with the exception of Northern Ireland, only those institutions where a 50% turnout is reached can act on the results. Ten universities* and 4 colleges^ met the required threshold for action read more
UCU & UCAC
Strike ballots over pay to open in Welsh colleges – Staff in Welsh further education colleges are being balloted for strike action as part of a row over pay. The dispute has arisen after Collegau Cymru rejected the joint trade unions’ pay claim for a rise of 7.5% or £1,500, instead making a final offer of 1%. The unions said that the employers’ offer would do nothing to address the falling value of staff pay in further education, and that above-inflation pay rises are needed to ensure colleges can continue to recruit and retain staff. UCU and UCAC will begin balloting members at 12 colleges this week. The ballot dates are as follows:
UCU: Monday 24 September – Friday 19 October
UCAC: Thursday 28 September – Friday 26 October read more
UCAC website: http://www.athrawon.com/index.php?lang=cy
FBU
Firefighter jobs continue to be slashed stoking safety fears (18 Oct) – The Tory government continues to cut firefighter jobs in England, despite the service dealing with more incidents, more fires, and more fire deaths. Since 2009, the number of firefighters has decreased by 23%. As of 31 March 2018, there were 32,340 firefighters (full time equivalent), with 421 firefighter jobs having been lost over the past year – a 1% decrease – which continues the downward trend of firefighters on the front line. The worst cuts of all have been in emergency fire controls, which have seen 30% of jobs cut in a decade. Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said: “We are told that austerity is over, but for who? Certainly not the fire service. This Tory government needs to change course and stop the callous cuts, not just in the fire service, but in all areas of public life…” read more
NEU
Enough is Enough: March for Education – Tuesday November 20th. Assemble 5.30pm Westminster Cathedral, Ashley Place, SW1P 1LT London Facebook event
EIS
A national EIS demonstration in support of our pay claim will take place in Glasgow on Saturday October 27th – As a union, we need a maximum display of our strength on the day. All members are urged to attend this event to send a clear message to Scottish Government and COSLA: Value Education Value Teachers! Read more
NUJ
NUJ backs AFP workers’ stoppage (18 Oct) – The NUJ’s general secretary has conveyed solidarity and support to all the trade unionists at Agence France-Presse (AFP) in their fight against 150 job cuts being imposed by the board of governors read more
BECTU
Read the latest about the Picturehouse dispute 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
Rise of the Precarious Workers: National Demo October 30th 8am Transport for London, 197 Blackfriars Road SE1 8NJ Facebook event – They have killed our rights, but together, we are going to bring them back from the dead. On the eve of Halloween, The IWGB and other precarious workers will take to the streets of London to demand an end to the assault on their employment rights by bloodsucking bosses and a zombie government. On the day, the IWGB will be facing Uber at the Court of Appeal as part of the ongoing battle over workers’ rights. A victory would put us one step closer to ending the attack on our rights that so-called “gig economy” bosses are conducting with near impunity. This is not just about Uber drivers, but about all of us that are being forced into increasingly more precarious forms of work
Other news
New film by Mike Leigh: ‘Peterloo’ opens nationwide Thursday November 8th https://www.peterloo.movie/
New pamphlet: ‘The Peterloo Massacre’ by North West Socialist Party – £2 or bulk orders are 10 for the price of 7
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)
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
Saudi Arabia: End the lies, cover-up and appeasement over killing of Jamal Khashoggi read more on NUJ website
Diary
2018
November
3 National Demonstration to Save Libraries, Museums and Culture – Assemble: 11 a.m. – The British Library, Euston Road, London read more
17 West Midlands NSSN
National Unity Demonstration Against Fascism and Racism Central London
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
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ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
