This week’s NSSN bulletin headlines with the explosive outburst of anger against the Tory government’s 1% pay offer for NHS workers. A glimpse of this mood was shown by immediate protests called in Manchester and London on Sunday. NSSN supporters were present on both.
Outrageously, despite both protests being safe, with PPE used and socially-distanced, police cited COVID rules to arrest two women, fining one of them Karen Reissmann a mental health nurse on the Unison NEC a brutal £10,000. In a fantastic show of solidarity, an appeal has raised this money. But the NSSN calls on Unison to fund a legal appeal that fights for the right to protest against Tory decisions that threaten NHS workers with poverty pay. This would then be a platform for action.
NHS workers have been fighting for a pay rise of up to 15% to make up for the real terms cuts in wages over the last decade of austerity. The pandemic has shown that it is them and all those across the public sector who are facing a pay freeze as well as workers in the private sector that we are key in the running of society.
But to get the pay rise we deserve will take more than the slow hand clap suggested by Unison’s general secretary. It will need all the health unions to come together to co-ordinate strike action. We are confident that the rest of the trade union movement will support any action NHS workers take.
NHS Pay Rally: ‘NHS workers fighting back’ – 6pm Thursday March 11th (hosted by NSSN Midlands) Facebook event (includes Zoom details)
Lack of decent NHS pay rise will lead to staff exodus and waiting list crisis, warns Unite (7 Mar)
GMB: Anger as Government threatens NHS workers with ‘paltry’ 1% pay rise or more cuts (4 Mar)
Prime Minister should admit the government’s made a big mistake on NHS pay, says UNISON (7 Mar)
Unison: One per cent pay rise “is the worst kind of insult” (4 Mar)
For more information: Nurses and Midwives say NO! to Public Sector pay inequality, Keep Our NHS Public, Health Campaigns Together
Stop union-busting on the buses: Reinstate Declan Clune and Moe Muhsin Manir
In the space of a couple of weeks, two bus driver union reps have been sacked – Declan Clune RMT at Bluestar in Hampshire and Moe Muhsin Manir Unite at Abellio in South London. Both are members of the NSSN steering committee and have both built reputations for fighting for their members, coming to the fore in the fight for workplace safety during the pandemic. Declan’s appeal is this Wednesday and after being dismissed yesterday, Moe is appealing against his. We give our full support to their campaigns for reinstatement up to and including any industrial action taken by their respective memberships.
Donate to the reinstatement campaign of Declan Clune RMT bus driver in Southampton (on behalf of Declan Clune and all RMT Southampton District Bus and Coach Branch members). Email message of support: [email protected]
Email messages of support to Moe: [email protected]
Also, please support Sean Miskimmon (RMT NEC/Stena), Gary Carney (London Underground) who are also fighting union victimisation
The Sparks launch fight that forces bosses back de-skilling at Hinkley Point but struggle continues
Rank and file construction electricians have launched a struggle against what they see as multi-skilling by bosses at the massive site Hinkley Point to build the nuclear power station, estimated to cost £22.5 billion.
It is reported that an agreement to employ about 500 electrical apprentices had been reneged on and instead a training course for ‘Support Operatives’ is being put on. This would mean lower-paid unskilled workers being employed instead of skilled electricians.
This campaign was launched at protests last Wednesday in London, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle. Unite now report that the training course at Hinkley has been stopped, which is a great victory. But the fight goes on, particularly targeting NG Baileys and Balfour Beatty, until de-skilling is totally off the agenda.
Solidarity to the Sparks!
See Reel News video of last week’s protests
Read latest Siteworker bulletins of the Rank & File:-
Monday 8th Deadline set for NG Bailey & Balfour Beatty
Unite Electrical & Mechanical Combine Statement
Unite statement: Hinkley Point C and Threatened Deskilling of Electricians
Hinkley Point C Deskilling Training Documents Revealed
Support the NSSN
NSSN Enfield forum – Organise to fight back in Enfield. Facebook event (includes Zoom details)
7.30pm Monday 22nd March
Speakers:-
Onay Kasab Unite Regional Officer
Arif Bektaş Day Mer (Turkish / Kurdish community organisation)
Lewis Peacock RMT (London Underground)
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. Feel free to use this affiliation letter
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]
Watch the NSSN pre-TUC Rally from last September and follow us on twitter via @NSSN_AntiCuts and Facebook
The NSSN is continuing to report on how workers are organising during the coronavirus pandemic
The NSSN is opening up our weekly email bulletin, website and social media platforms of Facebook and twitter to provide a public forum for workers during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. We want to be a place where we can all share queries and experiences that workers are facing in their workplaces. These include reports of action taken by workers to defend themselves from their employers.
You can read about many of these actions in our weekly bulletin and out social media groups, especially our Facebook group: NSSN – defend workers’ rights under Coronavirus.
You can also send the NSSN your reports and queries via our website, twitter – @NSSN_AntiCuts and email – [email protected]
We welcome the information being sent to union members concerning the spread of coronavirus, including the Accord, Advance, AEP, AFA-CWA, ASLEF, BDA, BECTU Sector of Prospect, BFAWU, BOS-TU, College of Podiatry, Community, CSP, EIS, Equity, FBU, FDA, GMB, HCSA, MU, NAHT, NASUWT, National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD), Nautilus International, NEU, NGSU, NUJ, PFA, Prospect, RCM, SoR, TSSA, TUC, UCU, UNISON, Unite, URTU, USDAW, WGGB and the RCN
But it is absolutely vital that unions retain their ability to organise and act independently in defence of their members and workers generally. This includes the right of unions to take industrial action. We are already aware of workers being forced to take unofficial action on health and safety grounds. We also believe that unions should have oversight of any government bans on protests and picketing. This is the same Tory government that tabled more new anti-union laws in December’s Queens Speech last December and cannot be trusted.
We believe that it is essential that workers are protected during this worrying period and are not impacted, whether in terms of their safety as well as their pay and employment rights. The Tory government have announced measures that include some workers receiving 80% of their wages. This furlough scheme was due to end but has now been extended because of the 2nd lockdown.
However, we believe that no worker should pay the price for any spread of the virus. We say: work or full pay. Any worker who is required not to attend work or is unable to do so because of COVID, childcare or transport closures should receive full pay and not be forced to take annual leave. But unions have to remain vigilant that any government payments actually happen and also covers all workers, including those in precarious employment such as zero-hour contracts and in the gig economy.
We have drafted this model motion which we’ve made into a bulletin that can be downloaded and printed off to be distributed. Feel free to use in your union and trades council, in totality or partially to highlight the issues that need to be addressed.
Keep an eye out for other Facebook and social media groups and pages that are being created. The Coronavirus Support Group for Workers has been set up on Facebook and is a useful forum and you can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK
Union News
RMT
RMT welcomes London Travelwatch report but warns it will go nowhere without Government funding (4 Mar) – TRANSPORT UNION RMT welcomed the publication of London Travelwatch’s report into the future of public transport in the capital but warned that without a change of approach from Government toward TfL it will go nowhere read more
Sign this petition: RMT steps up campaign for TfL funding
Sign petition: to The Mayor of London and the London Assembly – End the privatisation of cleaning at Transport for London
Please Support RMT Members With No Wages! – RMT London Transport Region Zero Hours & Self-Employed members need our Solidarity Now! Many of our regions self-employed members and those on zero hours have not any had wages for 2 months since March. They have been abandoned by London Underground, TfL, the London Mayor and their agency employers. They MUST NOT be abandoned by us too; their RMT sisters and brothers! The RMT London Transport Regional Council and LU Engineering RMT branch are calling out to all branches, members and friends to dig deep and give meaningful solidarity to our hard pressed members facing poverty and possibly eviction from their homes. To help support by donating to the fund or to ask after support for yourself, please email: [email protected] read more
TSSA
Budget Must Spell Out “Crystal Clear” Support For Transport & Travel (2 Mar) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to spell out “crystal clear measures” to support Britain’s travel industry and give guarantees about the future of Eurostar. Ahead of tomorrow’s Budget (Wednesday 3rd March) the trade union boss appealed to Sunak to make every possible effort to help what he described as “key players” in Britain’s economic recovery from the Covid crisis read more
Unite
Support the indefinite bus strike in Manchester and the industrial action at RATP in London, where workers at Sovereign are striking this Wednesday
‘Rogue Manchester bus service’ exposing passengers to Covid-19 risk (4 Mar) – Passengers on Go North West’s ‘rogue bus service’ are being forced onto dangerously overcrowded buses, risking their health and all residents in Greater Manchester. Over 400 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are currently on all out strikes, after Go North West, brutally fired and rehired the workers and forced them onto inferior pay and conditions. The workers who currently earn on average £24,000 a year, will be £2,500 a year worse off. The strike action began on Sunday 28 February. Rather than return to the negotiating table and seek an agreement to avoid strike action, the company decided to instead operate a ‘rogue bus service’ read more
Ealing parking chaos looms as civil enforcement officer strike ballot opens over union busting (8 Mar) – Ealing residents could face parking chaos if civil enforcement officers employed by Serco vote to strike over attempts at union busting by the company, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday 8 March). Nearly 40 civil enforcement officers, who have been designated as key workers and who have worked throughout successive lockdowns, are being balloted for strike action after the company offered severance to elected Unite representatives and activists in order to undermine trade union organisation. The strike ballot will open on Friday 12 March and close on Tuesday 6 April. If workers vote for industrial action then strikes could begin later next month read more
St Mungo’s staff deep concern at bullying management – Prospect of industrial action. Unite has raised the deep concerns of St Mungo’s staff about bullying and victimisation in the organisation including attacks on union reps. The union launched the avoidance of dispute process regarding issues in one team, but management have rebuffed this initiative leading to the prospect of industrial acrtion. Unite has also raised the disporportionate number of HR procedures against union reps read more
Cammell Laird job losses ‘totally unacceptable’ (5 Mar) – Unite the UK’s leading union, has branded the announcement today (Friday 5 March) that the Cammell Laird shipbuilding yard in Birkenhead is intending to make 178 workers redundant, as ‘totally unacceptable’. The yard currently has a workforce of approximately 700 workers. Despite there being a job retention scheme in place at the yard, Unite was not consulted about the redundancies and has not been informed about the business case behind the decision read more
Delivery of top car brands in UK and for export could be disrupted by ‘fire and rehire’ row (5 Mar) – The delivery of top UK car brands for export could be hit by industrial action, following a unilateral decision to ‘fire and rehire’ 23 drivers by a French-owned logistics company. Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said that the drivers’ employer STVA, part of the Groupe CAT, had given notice that their current contracts would terminate on 21 April and they could then apply for a new one which would mean them losing about £3,200-a-year in wages. Unite said that it was planning to hold an industrial action ballot of the drivers who deliver Bentley, Ford and Honda cars across the UK and unload the vehicles for export at the ports read more
No compulsory redundancies “great news” for Airbus Broughton (4 Mar) – Unite Wales has today welcomed the announcement by Airbus that there will be no compulsory redundancies across their UK operations, including at Broughton in North Wales. The news will come as a relief to the thousands of Unite members at Broughton, who recently overwhelmingly agreed to an innovative shorter working week in order to save job read more
Government commits to further talks on future of GKN’s Birmingham factory (4 Mar) – Representatives of Unite, the UK’s leading union, along with Jack Dromey MP, today (Thursday 4 March) met with Kwasi Kwarteng MP, the secretary of state for business enterprise and industrial strategy, about the future of the GKN factory in Birmingham. The meeting was highly positive and Mr Kwarteng committed the government to further discussions about how the future of the factory can be secured read more
London bus drivers to stop driving overcrowded buses to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (4 Mar) – London bus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have been advised to stop driving if their bus becomes overcrowded, in order to prevent the transmission of Covid-19. Following the high number of bus drivers who died of Covid-19 and to prevent transmission among passengers, Transport for London (TfL), the transport regulator in the capital, last year set strict limits on how many passengers a bus should carry to ensure that social distancing was maintained read more
Major safety concers after Capita slashes fire fighters at Clyde naval bases (4 Mar) – Unite the union has today (4 March) raised ‘major’ safety concerns following plans by Capita to reduce the number of fire fighters based at the Faslane and Coulport nuclear naval bases. The trade union has been notified that Capita is set to reduce the specialist fire safety crew by eight positions which represents a cut of 15% at the nation’s nuclear naval bases on the Clyde. Capita won the contract in 2020 for fire response services from the Ministry of Defence read more
‘Fire and rehire’ plans for Banbury coffee workers branded as ‘immoral’ by Unite (4 Mar) – Plans to ‘fire and rehire’ nearly 300 workers at the JDE (Jacobs Douwe Egberts) site in Banbury, Oxfordshire could lead to industrial action at the coffee factory, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, warned today (Thursday 4 March). Unite has branded the action of the Dutch-owned company in issuing notice of dismissal and engagement for 291 employees as ‘immoral’, especially given the dedication of the workforce as coffee drinking has soared in the UK during the year-long pandemic. Unite is also angry at proposed changes to the company’s pension scheme which will mean the ending of the final salary system and introducing an ‘inferior’ defined contribution scheme which will be subject to the fluctuations in global stock markets read more
Hestia housing workers victory in London Living Wage battle (4 Mar) – Hestia Housing and Support workers have succeeded in their campaign to force their employer to pay the London Living Wage, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday 4 March). After a five-month campaign, in which union membership more than doubled and continues to grow, Hestia has pledged to increase pay to the Living Wage Foundation London-weighted wage of £21,800. The Unite campaign was initiated after Hestia claimed in its policy and financial documents that it was paying employees the London Living Wage. This was despite some employees receiving a basic annual salary that was £400 less than the real Living Wage read more
Living Wage Foundation urged to end Goodlord accreditation over ‘brutal’ London pay cuts as indefinite strikes begin – The Living Wage Foundation has been urged to end its accreditation of London-based lettings software provider Goodlord over ‘brutal’ £6,000 pay cuts that have forced staff to begin indefinite strike action, Unite said today (Tuesday 2 March). Around 20 Unite members employed in Goodlord’s London-based referencing department, which provides tenant checks for estate agents, had been on discontinuous strike since 22 February. On March 1, however, the workers escalated their industrial action to an indefinite strike, meaning they will not return to work until the dispute is resolved. The dispute centres on fire and rehire plans that would see the pay of Goodlord’s referencing staff plummet from £24,000 to £18,000. Goodlord is accredited as a Living Wage Foundation employer. However, the cuts would see Goodlord’s referencing staff earn less than the foundation’s London living wage of £21,157. Referencing staff are the only workers employed by the company to have been singled out for fire and rehire attacks read more
Messages of support to [email protected]
- Email complaints to [email protected]; tweet complaints to @sogoodlord
- Strike fund donations to Unite LE/7098L London ITC Branch, sort code 60-83-01, account 20303680, reference Goodlord
Unite members set to strike at Clyde nuclear bases following ‘overwhelming’ support for action – Unite the union has today (27 February) announced that its membership at the Coulport and Faslane naval bases on the Clyde are set to take part in rolling industrial action following ‘overwhelming’ support from its 1000-strong membership. Unite members voted by 95% in support of strike action on an aggregated 65% turnout across the three different entities at the bases (Babcock Industrial, Babcock Non-Industrial and ISS Facility Services). The strike action will also be held in conjunction with a continuous call out ban and ban on all overtime. The rolling industrial action is set to begin every day from 12 March at 10 a.m read more
Sainsbury’s faces South East Easter shortages as DHL strikes over ‘union busting’ loom – Sainsbury’s is facing Easter shortages at its stores across the South East, including parts of London, after DHL staff at its Dartford regional distribution centre voted for strike action over ‘union busting’, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday 12 February). The Dartford strike ballot was called after a Unite steward, who was providing support to a member of staff during an investigation hearing, was suspended for challenging a DHL managers’ version of events. The reason given for the suspension by the manager was that the Unite steward was being aggressive – an accusation flatly contradicted by a neutral member of staff who was present at the meeting as a third party. After the vote in favour of strike action, more than 350 DHL staff are now poised to stage walk out’s throughout March, April and May read more
NHS bosses probed on profit margins of £755,000 contract for Reading hospital security guards – NHS bosses are being quizzed on the profit margins of the outsourced contract for the security guards at Reading hospital, who are currently locked in a ‘David and Goliath’ pay battle. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is paying Kingdom Service Group Ltd a total of £755,763-a-year to provide security for the trust. The security guards are currently on strike until early March over the Kingdom management’s failure to make a decent pay offer for 2020. Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, is now questioning whether the contract is ‘value for money’ and how big the profits margins are for Kingdom Service Group – a major corporate service provider with a £100 million plus turnover. Unite wants to know if it would not be better value for the taxpayer if the contract was brought back in-house which would then eradicate the hefty built-in profit margins that the outsourced company now enjoys…The 20 security guards have been taking strike action since mid-December and the third wave of strike action will run from 19.00 on Friday 12 February and ending at 19.00 on Sunday 7 March. This follows on from already announced strikes from 07:00 today (Monday 8 February) until 19.00 on Friday 12 February read more Text solidarity messages via Jessica 07718668497 and donate to strike fund: Acc. No.: 20173991 Sort Code: 60-83-01. Sign petition to Mark Wallace , Kingdom Service Group Managing Director: Pay Royal Berkshire Hospital security staff a wage they can live on
Scunthorpe scaffolders step up strike action at British Steel site – The British Steel plant in Scunthorpe faces further disruption this month as scaffolders based at the site, announced a further six days of strike action in a dispute over pay. The workers have already taken four days of strike action and will mount a further 48 hour strike beginning at 05:30 on Monday 8 February. Unite has now announced a 48 hour strike to begin at 05:30 on Monday 15 February, a 24 hour hours strike beginning at 05:30 on Thursday 18 February, then a further 48 hour strike beginning at 05:30 on Monday 22 February and finally a 24 hour strike from 05:30 on Thursday 25 February. The 50 plus scaffolders, involved in the strike action are employed by contractor Brand Energy to undertake maintenance on over 500 scaffolding structures that are on the British Steel site read more
Fresh Babcock strikes at RAF Leeming as ‘flight disruption’ over pay disparity continues – Strike action by Babcock Aerospace workers at RAF Leeming, near Northallerton in North Yorkshire, over a £5,000 pay disparity will continue until the end of February, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday 28 January). Around 50 Babcock workers, who provide operational and engineering services for aircraft at RAF Leeming, including the Hawk trainer aircraft, last week began three weeks of discontinuous strike action as well as a continuous overtime ban. Unite said of the fresh wave of strike action: “the disruption to training flight schedules will continue until the end of February”. The workers will be holding socially distanced picket lines outside the main entrance to RAF Leeming during the strikes (see notes to editors for strike times and dates). The Unite members voted in favour of strike action after being refused shift pay, even though their colleagues at RAF Valley in Wales receive it for performing the same duties. The difference in take home wages between those who receive shift pay and those who do not amounts to around £5,000 a year read more
Donations can be made as follows:
Bank Transfer to : Sort Code: 60 83 01 Account No: 20173962
Account Name: Unite North East Region 1% Fund
Reference: Babcock Aerospace Ltd and your branch number
Alternatively, By Cheque made payable to “Unite the Union” and forwarded to the Leeds Regional Office, Unite the Union, 55 Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 7BW marked for the attention of the Regional Secretary (Babcock Aerospace Dispute). For messages of support please email [email protected]
Read document by Unite Community Cumbria branch: ‘Covid and the Tories – a world beating catastrophe’
PCS
Work for DVLA? Expect a ballot call or text from PCS (5 Mar) – In the final weekend before the DVLA ballot closes our activists and staff will be contacting members by text and through phone calls to urge everyone to use their vote and have their say on workplace safety. PCS is balloting members on strike action over Covid safety at the DVLA. If you work at the DVLA you should use your vote. Our activists and staff are calling over the weekend using this number: 447727730708. We are also texting members using this number: 447782993076. The ballot closes at noon on Thursday (11 March), so make sure you get your ballot posted this weekend to arrive with the independent scrutineers in plenty of time read more
Please sign this PCS petition to Save Ealing Tax Office – we ask that you sign this eaction to the Chancellor calling on him to intervene urgently, to halt the office closures and redundancies, and consult fully with the union and work to retain the experience and vital knowledge contained within Ealing Tax Office. Support our call to SAVE JOBS, SAVE SERVICES and STOP THE CLOSURES
GMB
Support the GMB strike against ‘fire and rehire at British Gas – send a message of support and donate to the GMB British Gas ‘Fire and Rehire’ Strike Fund
British Gas strike goes ahead after engineers overwhelmingly reject offer (5 Mar) – Fire and rehire plan main obstacle to a deal – British Gas must remove it if we are to progress. British Gas engineers will walk out for their 27th day of strike action today after they overwhelmingly rejected a revised offer from the company at ACAS. Thousands took part in the ballot with more than three quarters of gas and electrical engineers voting against the deal after the company declined to take its fire and rehire plan off the table. British Gas engineers will down tools for four days from today until March 8 over the company’s plan to sack them and rehire them on worse terms and conditions. These are strike days 27 to 30 of the ongoing dispute. GMB says fire and rehire remains the main obstacle to members accepting a deal read more
GMB win: Ambulance workers and paramedics in West Midlands win full covid sick pay (8 Mar) – GMB Union’s ambulance service branch fought ceaselessly to make sure no worker is punished for self-isolating. Ambulance workers and paramedics in the West Midlands have won full Covid-19 sick pay after a GMB campaign. Official NHS guidance states workers should be paid in full, including average overtime, whilst isolating due to coronavirus read more
Cammell Laird Shipyard announces 178 job cuts in ‘sickening blow’ (5 Mar) – Cammell Laird shipbuilders worked through the pandemic to keep the yard afloat and bosses have rewarded them by slashing almost 180 jobs. GMB, the union for shipbuilders, says almost 178 job cuts announced by Cammell Laird ship yard in Birkenhead is a ‘sickening blow’ read more
GMB slams Lambeth plan for mass restructure and potential school job losses (8 Mar) – School staff have risked their lives every day of the pandemic and their reward is the threat of redundancy, says GMB Union. GMB, the union for schools in Lambeth, has slammed a plan by headteachers across the borough for radical restructures which could lead to job losses in at least 20 schools. The plans will only affect the lower ends of the pay scales – so headteachers themselves will be unaffected – focussing on teaching assistants, learning support workers and midday meal supervisors read more
WATCH: Newsnight marks GMB’s landmark win at Bakkavor (4 Mar) – BBC’s flagship news programme marks the union’s landmark win for mass testing and full pay for covid positive staff. GMB the union for Bakkavor workers claimed a massive victory in December as the fresh food giant agreed full pay for staff off work and a rollout of mass testing at the Tilmanstone salads factory. The company, which supplies major retailers including Marks and Spencer, also carried out a deep clean of the factory. The news came after two tragic covid related deaths amongst workers at the Tilmanstone factory, and cases rocketed from around 35 in the third week of November to 99 at the start of December last year read more
GMB condemns sacking of striking workers at tile factory in Beenham – We wholly condemn the sacking of the Marley strikers, whilst the manager who drove his car at them is lauded. GMB, the union at Marley Tiles in Reading, believes the dismissal of the three members and the final written warnings given to two other members, was for engaging in lawful industrial action at the tile factory in Beenham. The industrial action took place in December 2020 and resulted in disciplinary action for five members including the workplace rep on 23rd February 2021, who between them have 101 years employment with the company. In contrast, no action has been taken against the manager who was reported by many members as having ‘driven his car at excessive and dangerous speed at the picket line’ of workers, as well as encouraging a lorry driver to also drive at the picket line, which was captured on CCTV. Despite reports to the police about his behaviour, the company have instead sacked the workers who were driven at aggressively and dangerously. GMB has been balloting members over action to defend its members undergoing disciplinary action read more
Unison
Dismay at plans to make a university pension unaffordable (5 Mar) – UNISON is concerned that many members won’t be able to afford to save for their retirement under proposed changes read more
Cumberland Infirmary workers stage second strike (1 Mar) – UNISON calls on NHS England to investigate where a “substantial sum” of money has gone that should have been used to fund unsocial hours payments for the workers. UNISON members on a socially distanced picket line outside Cumberland Infirmary. UNISON members at Cumberland Infirmary are taking a second day of strike action today as their private employer refuses to end a decade of missing payments. More than 150 porters, cleaners, switchboard and catering staff employed at Cumberland Infirmary by facilities company Mitie, took a first day of action on Friday over missing payments for working unsocial hours read more
Unison: Support the Birmingham NHS Heartlands Porters Dispute – UNSION members who are Heartlands Hospital Porters are currently taking strike action about the proposed imposition of a new rota. This will result in them working detrimental rotating 8 shifts pattern. The proposed rota impacts on our members health and well being; their caring responsibilities; their work/life balance and results in a significant cut in wages for many read more on Facebook page.
Email message of support to [email protected]
Donate to hardship fund: Unison University Hospitals Birmingham Branch 22536, Unity Trust Bank, Ac: 20403849 Sort Code: 60 83 01
Sign petition: We call upon the Chair of the Trust Jacqui Smith and the Chief Executive David Rosser to halt the imposition of the rota and to not ‘fire and rehire’ their Heartlands Hospital Porters on the 1st Feb. We urge them to ask the senior management to work with UNISON to implement a jointly agreed rota which is based upon a ‘fixed’ shift basis
NIPSA
QUB Creche Workers Commence Industrial Action (8 Mar) – Industrial Action QUB Queens University Belfast. Sixteen NIPSA members employed in QUB Crèche commence industrial action today in defence of their terms, conditions and employment. It is ironic on International Women’s Day low paid women workers’ have been forced to take industrial action. Despite being engaged in conciliation via the Labour Relations Agency unfortunately that process did not deliver anything that would have allowed the action to be called off. The action today commences with Action Short of Strike Action – but messages of support to these brave NIPSA members will be passed on. If your branch could take the time to send a message of support that would be most welcome. You should send your message to Bernard Trainor who will ensure your messages are sent to the members which will certainly bolster them in their action read more
Newry, Mourne and Down Council – Successful Outcome to Industrial Dispute (8 Mar) – Industrial Action Local Government District Councils. NIPSA members in Newry, Mourne and Down Council, together with our sister unions SIPTU, GMB and UNITE, took strike action on 3 December 2020 in furtherance of the intransigence of Management Side in a long running dispute read more
CWU
Five more strike days announced in Openreach (3 Mar) – A further five days of strike action have been announced in Openreach amid mounting workforce exasperation at the refusal of bosses to engage with the union over the legitimate concerns of repayment project engineers (RPEs) about the imposed re-grading of their role. Today (Wednesday) the small but fiercely loyal group of CWU members are commencing their second previously announced stint of industrial action, with three consecutive strike days that will run until midnight on Friday following on from the two consecutive days of action they took on Wednesday and Thursday last week…CWU national officer for Openreach, Davie Bowman: “These strike days will take place between 00:01 on Thursday March 18 and 23:59 on Friday March 19, and then a further three days between 00.01 on Monday March 22 and 23.59 on Wednesday March 24 – bringing the total number of strike days announced to date to 10” read more
Sign petition: Keep BT desk based sites open in London and the South East
FBU
Fire Brigades Union taking employers back to court over withheld pensions (4 Mar) – Union threatens to sue every fire and rescue authority if pensions are not returned. The Fire Brigades Union has launched High Court legal proceedings in a bid to force fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) to finally hand back retired firefighters their full pensions, pensions to which they are entitled. In December 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that firefighters were entitled to return to their previous pension schemes, after discriminatory 2015 pension reforms drawn up by the coalition government saw individuals moved from their original pension scheme onto a new but worse scheme read more
POA
Nothing for worn-out NHS staff who’ve kept us safe in the pandemic, say health unions (5 Mar) – Nothing for worn-out NHS staff who’ve kept us safe in the pandemic, say health unions. Health workers are currently in the final year of a three-year deal. They are due a pay rise in April. However, the 14 Trade Unions recognised by the NHS have been campaigning for the government to show its appreciation for NHS employees by bringing that forward. The government failed to commit to this last summer when wage increases for 900,000 workers elsewhere in the public sector were announced read more
NAPO
Probation union calls on government to scrap plans to send more women to prison (8 Mar) – Napo, the Probation and Family Courts Union, has produced a comprehensive briefing on Women and the Criminal Justice System to mark International Women’s Day on 8th March. The briefing considers the announcement in January by Prisons and Probation Minister, Lucy Frazer, about Government plans for the Women’s Estate and particularly challenges the proposal to build 500 additional prison places for women read more
BFAWU
Sign ‘War on Want’ petition: END SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT MCDONALD’S – McDonald’s has a sexual harassment problem. Women from across the world are joining together and speaking out about the harassment they have faced whilst working at the company. Workers in the USA have even been on strike about it. But still McDonald’s is refusing to take the action needed to end sexual harassment in its restaurants. The evidence is clear: a formal complaint submitted by workers in May 2020 shows at least seven countries where McDonald’s has failed to properly address harassment complaints, and the company’s global CEO even had to resign because of inappropriate relationships with employees. Please email McDonald’s UK CEO today and demand that the company listens to its workers and takes steps to end sexual harassment
NEU
Support these NEU strikes:-
Shrewsbury College/Shrewsbury (Victimisation of Rep): Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 9-11 March. Email support to [email protected]
Wycliffe College & Prep School/Gloucester: (Withdrawal of TPS)
Tuesday & Wednesday 9-10 March. Email support to [email protected]
Sign petition and support the strikes to Reinstate Sharon Morgan LONDON DESIGN AND ENGINEERING UTC Newham – At the start of this term, teacher and NEU rep Sharon Morgan was summarily dismissed from her job by London Design and Engineering UTC. Sharon was sacked without due process, with no formal investigation or a hearing where she could put her case. At an employment tribunal the judge described LDE’s behaviour as “morally reprehensible” and LDE subsequently agreed to reinstate Sharon. But the next day LDE changed their mind and refused to reinstate her. In reality, Sharon was sacked for helping NEU members stand up for better working conditions for staff, in the interests of the whole school community. This is trade union victimisation and it’s unacceptable. The sacking of Sharon is an attack on all trade unionists at LDE, in Newham, and everywhere.
Support Newham Little Ilford School strikes against unsafe expansion – NEU members have been taking strike action at the enormous comprehensive in Manor Park, east London, which already teaches 1,470 students. Labour-run Newham Council wants it to take 1,800. Sign petition: Newham Council is trying to force Little Ilford School to expand to 1800 pupils. But expanding will mean an overcrowded school and an overwhelming environment for all staff and pupils. It will undermine the quality of education and care that can be provided to pupils. And the expansion is opposed by virtually the entire staff body
NASUWT
Northern Ireland pay award ‘a step in the right direction’ (2 Mar) – The NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, has today responded to the pay award for all teachers in Northern Ireland of 2% payable from 1st September 2019 and an additional 2% payable from 1st September 2020. The pay award is applicable to all salary scales and teaching allowances. Subject to receipt of final approval of the pay remit by the Department of Finance, it is anticipated that the pay award will be implemented in the May/June payrolls read more
EIS
EIS Launches Manifesto for Education-Led Recovery from COVID (5 Mar) – The EIS has launched its education manifesto ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament elections. The Manifesto, entitled For an Education Led Recovery outlines EIS policy in key areas including Early Years education, Primary and Secondary schools, Additional Support Needs, Instrumental Music, the impact of poverty and tackling inequality, valuing teachers, Further & Higher Education, and social justice read more
UCU
Updates on latest UCU disputes
Petition calling for fair funding and online learning
Vote for strike action at University of Central Lancashire (5 Mar) – UCU members at the University of Central Lancashire have this week voted to take strike action in a row over job losses. 79% of members who voted supported strike action, with 88% backing action short of a strike, which could involve refusals to do unpaid overtime. The university wants to sack six members of teaching staff in the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries as part of a wider culling of jobs across the university. The university proposed axing 67 jobs altogether, despite 200 staff having already accepted voluntary redundancy over the past 18 months read more
UCU condemns planned closure of Newcastle University’s London campus (5 Mar) – UCU has today condemned Newcastle University’s planned closure of its London campus. Newcastle’s London campus opened just six years ago, with staff recruited to work there promised it was an integral, permanent part of the university. University management told staff last November that they plan to close the campus in September 2021, and that the decision cannot be reversed. Dozens of jobs are at risk as a result, with just one category of staff, permanent higher education lecturers, having the option of relocating to the North East read more
UCU responds to budget statement (3 Mar) – UCU today described the chancellor’s budget statement as a missed opportunity and called for more support for education staff as well as better mental health funding in the sector read more
UCU response to USS trustee update (3 Mar) – UCU said the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) has produced a report that risks endangering a healthy pension scheme. The union was responding to USS’s trustee update on the 2020 valuation read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes. As always, members are asked to contribute whatever their circumstances allow. A donation in solidarity of any amount will be gratefully received by members taking action.
NUJ
How gender-based violence is silencing women journalists (4 Mar) – Natasha Hirst told the TUC Women’s Conference that female writers are self-censoring or withdrawing from online spaces as a result of the abuse they suffer read more
Prospect
House of Commons staff should have been consulted in roadmap on return to Westminster (5 Mar) – Trade unions representing staff at the House of Commons have expressed “extreme disappointment” at the publication yesterday of a roadmap from the House of Commons Commission aimed at returning attendance at Westminster to pre COVID levels over the coming months, which was created without any consultation with the very people who will be required to make it work; the staff read more
Mandate (Ireland)
Ex-Debenhams workers mark 300 days on strike – reiterate call on Taoiseach to make funds available to workers – Today marks 300 days since 1,000 Debenhams workers in the Republic of Ireland received an email telling them they’d lost their jobs and their company had entered liquidation. Since then, the workers have mounted official pickets on 11 stores including four in Dublin – Henry Street, Blackrock, Blanchardstown and Tallaght, as well as Galway, Tralee, Newbridge, Limerick, Waterford and two stores in Cork – Mahon Point and Patrick Street. The workers are again calling on the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, to make a €3m training fund established for the workers available as a cash payment, and to legislate to make sure this never happens again read more
Support striking Debenhams Workers: Email messages of support to the strikers via [email protected] and Mandate through [email protected]. Also, follow Stand with Debenhams Workers Facebook page
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU members in Camphill Community in Wexford vote for strike action (26 Feb) – SIPTU members in working in Camphill Communities, Duffcarrig, county Wexford have voted unanimously in favour of industrial action in a dispute over funding and working conditions. The first 24-hour stoppage will take place from 8.00 a.m. on Friday, 12th March read more
UVW
Key workers at a North London care home take legal action against their employer for breach of human rights (25 Feb) – Staff at a North London care home have begun a series of legal proceedings against their employer it can be revealed today. According to trade union United Voices of the World (UVW), 14 care workers, cleaners and maintenance workers at Sage Nursing Home in Golders Green North London, a privately run care home for elderly and vulnerable Jewish residents, are bringing two separate legal claims against their employer for trade union victimisation. The care home is currently at the centre of an industrial dispute and recently saw dozens of its staff walk out in two separate strikes lasting for 4 and 3 days in January and February of this year. It is understood workers are demanding a £12 per hour “living wage”, full pay sick pay and annual leave in line with NHS rates, trade union recognition and an end to what they have called “victimisation” and “discrimination” at the home read more
Catholic school cleaners to strike for 40 days and 40 nights in “righteous indignation” about “wage theft”, “poverty pay” & “institutional racism” – Starting on 16th March a group of cleaners at the prestigious South London Roman Catholic Girls’ School, La Retraite, are set to take the first strike in the school’s 140 year history pledging to walk out for 40 days and 40 nights in “righteous indignation” about “unlawful wage deductions”, “poverty pay” and “institutional racism”. If all the planned strike days are taken, it will make it the longest school cleaners strike in UK history. The dispute centres around the fact that the cleaners are outsourced to a private contractor Ecocleen which results in the receiving inferior pay rates and terms and conditions to those enjoyed by La Retraite staff, including only getting Statutory Sick Pay, whilst everyone else gets full pay sick pay read more
Support the North London SAGE strike – Watch ReelNews video of strike
They’ve made it clear to Sage’s trustees that dignity in the workplace is non-negotiable. They deserve a living wage of £12 per hour, full pay sick pay and trade union recognition; and they won’t stop until they get it! If you want to support these workers in getting the respect and dignity they are long overdue, here’s what you can do:
1) Use our new letter writing tool to contact your MP calling on them to support the strike here
2) Use our new letter writing tool to send a message directly to Sage’s trustees calling on them to meet the workers’ demands here
3) Donate to the workers’ strike fund details here
Other news
Get your union branch and trades council to find out more about The Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC)
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
From PCS website: Shrewsbury pickets’ case at Court of Appeal – The Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, which is seeking justice for North Wales building workers prosecuted for picketing during the 1972 national building workers’ strike, takes a potentially significant step next month when the Court of Appeal will be asked to overturn their convictions. The campaign, backed by PCS, is seeking justice for 24 trade unionists arrested and charged after the first national building workers’ strike in 1972 read more
Socialist Film Club – Justice for the Shrewsbury Pickets – We welcome you to attend the next showing of the Socialist Film Club on 24th February for the film, a guest speaker, some music, and discussion. The film looks at the events surrounding the arrest of 24 Shrewsbury building workers in 1972, and the shocking imprisonment of three of them. At this very moment the case is going through the high courts to clear their names register here
#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement
The NSSN sends our solidarity and support to all those taking part in the Undercover Policing Inquiry who have suffered from state surveillance into the labour and trade union movement and a whole number of campaigns from anti-racism to environmentalism.
Watch video: ‘You’re Muted’ – What’s Up at the #SpyCopsInquiry? – Five minutes of highlights from the ‘Public’ Inquiry hearing evidence in secret about undercover policing in England and Wales since 1968
Keep up with developments and read and watch campaigners’ statements on the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) and Undercover Policing Inquiry websites and spycops info Facebook group
Blacklist Support Group opening statement to the public inquiry – Dave Smith posted this message on the BSG Facebook page:-
“I’d like to publicly thank everyone from around the globe who has sent messages of support after our opening statement at the undercover policing public inquiry. I was proud to deliver the speech on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group; but this is a collective endeavour. We got to this point by blacklisted union members working together with investigative journalists, campaigning lawyers, world class researchers, MPs, unions, anti-racist campaigns and rank & file activists. We stand shoulder to shoulder with all the non-state, non-police core participants in the public inquiry, especially our sister campaigns; Police Spies Out of Lives, Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance and the family justice campaigns. This is what solidarity looks like”.
Full text of the BSG opening statement is now online via the Hazards magazine website: https://www.hazards.org/blacklistblog/2020/11/17/blacklist-support-group-opening-statement-for-ucpi-dave-smith/
It can be watched via this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JegrwaVKRfs&feature=youtu.be
Some of the media coverage:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/police-urged-union-members-to-bomb-shop-ll0mv8bs7
http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2020/11/17/ucpi-daily-report-17-nov-2020/
To support the ongoing campaign for justice, please share some of the press articles on social media
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/blacklistSG/
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
Sign petition: St Mungo’s brutal treatment of BAME worker opposed by Unite – Without income for twenty-one weeks. Female worker comes to the end of a period of sickness during the pandemic. Health conditions put her at raised risk. She is also older and from a BAME background. Her normal job would expose her to further increased risk. Rather than furlough her or find her alternative work the employer simply stops her pay without going through any personnel procedure. Management reject appeals to senior levels from Unite leaving the worker without income and desperate for twenty-one weeks
Sign petition and support the strikes to Reinstate Sharon Morgan LONDON DESIGN AND ENGINEERING UTC – At the start of this term, teacher and NEU rep Sharon Morgan was summarily dismissed from her job by London Design and Engineering UTC. Sharon was sacked without due process, with no formal investigation or a hearing where she could put her case. At an employment tribunal the judge described LDE’s behaviour as “morally reprehensible” and LDE subsequently agreed to reinstate Sharon. But the next day LDE changed their mind and refused to reinstate her. In reality, Sharon was sacked for helping NEU members stand up for better working conditions for staff, in the interests of the whole school community. This is trade union victimisation and it’s unacceptable. The sacking of Sharon is an attack on all trade unionists at LDE, in Newham, and everywhere
Security guard seeks ‘groundbreaking’ injunction to stop his ‘unlawful’ sacking in what his union UVW describes as the first case of its kind for a low paid worker (23 Nov) – A security guard at the Francis Crick Institute in London is set to face off against his employer Wilson James in an injunction hearing in what his trade union, United Voices of the World (UVW), has described as an “unprecedented legal showdown”. On 11th November after only 3 weeks in his new job Cetin Avsar, the security guard from Turkey bringing the legal action, received a letter inviting him to a probationary review hearing stating “[his] conduct has not reached the required standards” citing only his membership of his trade union, his previously having participated in a strike and his views, shard by his union, that outsourcing is ‘discriminatory’. The letter warned him that he might be dismissed after the hearing read more
FCC dismiss Tony Smith Hull Unison Activist
Trade Unionists and activists will be outraged to hear that Unison activist Tony Smith’s dismissal has been upheld by FCC. As previously reported, Tony’s dismissal on trumped up charges was because of his trade union activities. It took nearly five weeks from the appeal to the outcome for FCC to confirm the sacking. Tony has faced the mental torture of not knowing whether he has a job or not, but the time taken reflected that dismissing him was not a simple issue because of the high profile that Tony has in the local Labour movement. Unison will be seeking compensation and the campaign focuses on Hull City Council to end its contract with FCC. Mick Whale Chair Hull Trades Council
PCS: Trade unionists asked to send solidarity to PCS rep dismissed after blowing the whistle (25 July) – Trade unionists are being urged to send solidarity messages to a PCS rep dismissed after whistleblowing at the Department of Work and Pensions. Enrico La Rocca, who had worked for the DWP for more than 27 years, lost his job in May after highlighting serious concerns with management over a number of years. His complaints resulted in questions being asked about the department’s handling of Carer’s Allowance overpayments by the National Audit Office (NAO) and raised by in a Work and Pensions Select Committee report read more from Union News
RMT: SUSPENSION OF RMT REPRESENTATIVES, FRATTON – SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY – Following my previous Circular (IR/171/20) dated 14th May 2020, as you are aware, two of our representatives, Mark Gamble and Brian Perren, were suspended from duty using unscrupulous charges. South Western Railway’s actions throughout this dispute have been appalling. The company have clearly targeted our members as they are hardworking and effective representatives. The callous action of South Western Railway has been abhorrent from the very start of this dispute. Our members recently had their disciplinary hearings and after successful representation Brother Brian Perren has been reinstated to his substantive role. However, Mark has been left in limbo by the company and still faces these ridiculous charges. This means that the ballot that was due to close today (4th June) has been cancelled. As one of our members has been reinstated, this changes the basis of the original ballot. Unfortunately, because of the anti-trade union laws we would not have been able to use any mandate we received from this ballot. Therefore, we have to run a fresh ballot and this will be to continue to defend our suspended Brother Mark Gamble. The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and has congratulated our members and all those who assisted Brian in proving his innocence and ensuring he is reinstated to his substantive role. The NEC has also instructed me to run a fresh ballot in defence of our Brother Mark Gamble who still remains suspended. It is incredibly disappointing that the company has failed to see sense and instead have chosen to drag on an unnecessary dispute. It is disgraceful that Mark remains suspended and we have no choice but to stand shoulder to shoulder and defy SWR’s callous and distasteful decision. I have written to the company today to advise them of this union’s position and they have been left in no doubt that we will not allow them to pursue outrageous charges against our from democratically elected representatives (from RMT general secretary Mick Cash)
Clara Paillard PCS victory – We are delighted to announce that the threat of dismissal has been lifted and Clara, PCS president in the Culture sector, is ‘back at work’ (although from home during the current pandemic).
Reinstate Percy Yunganina UVW union – Percy is a cleaner at King’s college with 5 years on the job, and a UVW executive committee member, who’s just been sacked after a disciplinary hearing he refused to attend due to observing the government’s social distancing guidelines but which King’s College proceeded with anyway in his absence without even letting him know or inviting him to attend via phone. The hearing would have had 8 people cramped together in a small room in complete disregard of the government’s instructions about social distancing. Percy has explained the reaons for not attending and asked for the decision to be overturned and the hearing to be reconvened via phone or in person after Lockdown. However, King’s have scandalously refused this request and have insisted on upholding his dismissal which now leaves Percy out of work and out of pocket in the middle of a pandemic! He will formally appeal but it could take months to hear and deliver an outcome. We will also take King’s to tribunal but that could take over a year. This is utterly shameless conduct by King’s HR team, led by Nigel Smith, the Head of People Services. They need to be held to account. Everyone deserves the right to a fair hearing and should not have that right denied them for respecting the government’s public health guidelines about social distancing. Please repost this and write to Nigel Smith at the following address telling him to reinstate Percy – [email protected]
Sign the petition: Reinstate Ezra Christian RMT – We, the undersigned, are appalled at the treatment and summary dismissal of our Bakerloo Line colleague Ezra Christian. Ezra has been treated very harshly and does not deserve to be sacked. We call on London Underground to do the right thing in this case and Reinstate Ezra back into London Underground Employment immediately
Support Danyal Aziz Unite – Daniel was a Unite rep at London City Airport, who was recently sacked. Labour MP Sam Tarry has tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion in support of Danyal. Email your local MP to get them to sign the EDM
Sign the petition: Reinstate UNISON rep Peter Moorhead and stop victimising trade unionists at Alternative Futures Group (AFG)
Support the ASDA workers and reinstate Michael Hunnum – 12,000 workers faced being sacked before Christmas by scrooge bosses ASDA, who are now owned by US superstore giant Walmart. This threat hanging over them was unless they agree to the new ‘Contract 6’ which will see them lose all their paid breaks and forced to work bank holidays. The same employer is sacking North East GMB member Michael Hunnam. Michael’s fight is part of the same struggle to resist the offensive of the ASDA bosses. Michael’s supporters believe that his determined opposition to Contract 6 is what has put him in the ASDA firing line. Support the ASDA workers and reinstate Michael!
Guardian: Ricky Tomlinson’s criminal convictions to be re-examined
Appeal court to look again at case of Royle Family actor after claims he may have been unjustly jailed
The criminal convictions of actor Ricky Tomlinson, who starred in the TV comedy the Royle Family, are to be re-examined by appeal court judges after an official body suggested he may have been unjustly jailed. Tomlinson and other trade unionists have been campaigning for years to clear their names after they were jailed during a strike in the 1970s. On Tuesday, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the public body that scrutinises alleged miscarriages of justice, announced it had asked the court of appeal to review the cases of Tomlinson and others. Tomlinson, 80, said it was “good news” and an opportunity to prove that he and 23 other men were prosecuted in what amounted to a politically motivated attack on the trade union movement by the government, police and managers read more in Guardian
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
International
Nigeria: A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY FOR ABBEY TROTSKY
Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye (Abbey Trotsky) will again appear at the Magistrate Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo state on Wednesday 24 February, 2021 to answer to four-count trumped–up criminal charges of conspiracy to commit breach of public peace, unlawful assembly, assault and malicious damage. If convicted on all four counts, Abbey could face a jail term of up to 13 years. Comrade Abbey Trotsky is the acting national chairperson of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) and the coordinator of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) in Oyo State.
Recall that Comrade Abbey Trotsky was arraigned on 7 June 2019 following over three weeks of repeated harassment by the police and State Secret Service, known as DSS. Between 19 December 2018 and 9 June 2019, Comrade Abbey Trotsky was arrested 5 times by the police and secret service. Then between 28 May and 7 June, he was forced to report weekly at the office of the AIG Zone 2 in Osogbo, Osun State, a neighbouring state. The background to this string of persecution is Abbey Trotsky’s intervention in a strike of contract/casual workers of Sumal Food Limited (http://sumalfoods.com) on 2nd and 3rd October 2018.
We hereby solicit your solidarity and support as follows:
- Join us in the Magistrate Ccourt 6, Iyaganku by 9am on the 24 February, 2021. We intend to organise a protest at the court premises.
- Organise Protests at or send Protest messages to Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions in solidarity on the same day across the world
- You can also send protests messages to drop all of the trumped-up charges against Abbey Trotsky to the following numbers:
(1) Minster of Labour & Productivity – +234 8033371229
(2) Deputy Inspector General of Police – +234 802 343 1079, +234 803 301 4905
(3) Police PRO, Force Headquarters: +234 8038375844
(4) Police PRO, Oyo State Command: +234 8035632410
Support Danone workers rallying to defending quality employment and rights! Read more
Diary
NSSN South West Conference – Sunday 7 March 1pm Facebook event
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
