We headline this week’s NSSN bulletin with the 3-week strike called by Unite members in Thurrock in Essex. The Tory Council are attacking the pay and terms & conditions of workers in refuse, street cleaning and highway maintenance. The NSSN sends solidarity to the Thurrock strikers.
Unite: Strike dates set as Thurrock council heroes resist cuts to pay and conditions – Council workers providing essential services through the health crisis to the residents of Thurrock will strike for three weeks because of Thurrock Council’s plans to brutally cut their pay and conditions. Refuse workers, highway maintenance and street cleaners will take strike action from Tuesday 13 April until Friday 7 May, excluding 3 May. The very workers who have been supporting residents, by providing key services throughout the current health crisis, are furious that they are now the target of proposed cuts of between £2,000 – £3,500 a year for refuse workers, highway maintenance and street cleaners. Meanwhile, the council has not proposed any cuts to the pay and conditions of senior management. Lyn Carpenter, the chief executive earns almost £200,000 a year read more
Follow Justice For Refuse Workers & Cleansers on Facebook
Sign petition: Thurrock Residents Please Support Key Workers Pay & Terms & Conditions
NSSN Conference 2021: 11am Sunday 20th June online via Zoom Facebook event
Stop victimisation of union reps
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]
RMT to ballot for action over victimisation and sacking of leading bus activist (25 Mar)
Support Gary Carney RMT rep on London Underground
Defend Adrian Mitchell RMT driver on London Underground
Donate to solidarity campaign of Moe Muhsin Manir Unite bus rep Email messages of support to Moe: [email protected]
Support Kirstie Paton Greenwich NEU – – Facebook event: Solidarity with victimised rep Kirstie Paton – #IAmKirstiePaton
Unite: Groundhog Day as Woolwich Ferry workers hold strike ballot over victimised rep (7 Apr)
St Mungos management escalate dispute by suspending Unite rep
Watch Reel News video: Victimised union reps: Act like it’s you and fight back
Fight Tory 1% NHS Pay Insult
For more information: Nurses and Midwives say NO! to Public Sector pay inequality, Keep Our NHS Public, Health Campaigns Together (read April’s HCT bulletin)
The Sparks force 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.
The campaign has already seen protests in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle, Scotland and Wales and recently there was the first demonstration at Hinkley. 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 – Sparks invade Balfour Beatty job over deskilling
See Reel News video of recent protest at Hinkley Point
Read latest Siteworker bulletins of the Rank & File
For details of Sparks protests, follow NO TO ESO (UNSKILLED LABOUR) Facebook page
Sign petition: Permanently BAN the practice or notion of de-skilling professional trades!
Support the NSSN
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 and is now attacking the right to protest through its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
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 launches ‘No Cuts at Network Rail’ campaign (19 Apr) – RMT steps up fightback in response to threat of thousands of rail worker redundancies by September and a fifty per cent cut in rail safety maintenance work. RMT today launched the next phase of the campaign to stop Network Rail plans that would result in thousands of job losses by this September and a wholescale dilution of safety standards, including a halving the frequency of safety critical maintenance work. As well as preparing for a national dispute the length and breadth of the railway the union has officially kicked off its “NO CUTS AT NETWORK RAIL” campaign this morning across the labour movement with a high-profile social media roll-out and with campaign materials mailed out directly to all Network Rail members. The attack on jobs and safety comes on top of an attempt by the company to implement an open-ended pay freeze on Network Rail workers and a wholescale attack on working condition read more
Fourth day of strike action by Scotrail conductors rock solid again today as Abellio bosses line their pockets at workers expense (18 Apr) – RAIL UNION RMT said that a fourth day of strike action by Scotrail conductors in a fight for equality and workplace justice over enhanced payments for rest day working is rock solid again today as cynical Abellio bosses line their own pockets at their workers expense in the dying months of their franchise:-
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 28th March 2021
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 4th April 2021
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 11th April 2021
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 18th April 2021
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 25th April 2021
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 2nd May 2021 read more
ScotRail ticket examiners vote yes for action read more
Sign petition: to The Mayor of London and the London Assembly – End the privatisation of cleaning at Transport for London
RMT members to take industrial action at Unipart Rail Doncaster – RMT members working at Unipart Rail Doncaster will be taking industrial action next month following a ballot after a derisory pay offer from the company. Unipart Rail’s Doncaster warehouse supplies parts to the rail industry. With effect from 00:01 hours on Friday 2nd April 2021, until further notice, RMT members working at Unipart Rail Doncaster are instructed:-
- Not to work any non-contractual overtime
- Not to work on a rest day read more
Fight job cuts at Queens Park – In January, LU announced a plan to cut train driver jobs at Queen’s Park depot. They’ve refused to back away from that, so our driver members will now ballot for industrial action. The ballot opens on 25/03 and closes on 08/04. Resist the cuts, vote yes! Read more
Sign this petition: RMT steps up campaign for TfL funding
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
ASLEF
Stonehaven interim report (19 Apr) – ASLEF has welcomed an interim report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch into the crash at Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire on Wednesday 12 August 2020 which claimed the lives of three people – driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62 – and in which six other people were injured. The RAIB exonerated the driver of the train and has found that the accident, which cast a long shadow across Britain’s railway industry, was caused by ‘debris washed onto the track near Carmont, Aberdeenshire, following heavy rainfall. The washout was caused by unusually heavy rain. The subsequent derailment resulted in the death of three people, injuries to the six other people in the train and catastrophic damage’ read more
TSSA
Network Rail CEFA Eastern Region Detailed Examinations Contract – proposed transfer of staff from Amey (15 Apr) – Letter sent to Lisa Brackner – HR Director Bridgeway Consulting Ltd. Dear Lisa, As you are aware, I have spent most of this week unsuccessfully attempting to speak to a representative of Bridgeway Consulting regarding the above matter. I am now writing to you formally as I feel you need to be clear about the very real concerns that TSSA and our members have. I also want you to be aware of our firm resolve to ensure that the interests of those in scope for transfer to Bridgeway Consulting are protected by any and all means at our disposal. If you know anything of TSSA and our approach to industrial relations, you will be aware that we value working constructively to the mutual benefit of our members and employers. However, you should not mistake our constructive approach for weakness! TSSA uses whatever legal avenues or other leverage that are available to us if an employer is not willing to be reasonable, and as a union we have no hesitation in giving full backing to members to pursue industrial action if that is what they wish so to do read more
ScotRail Losses ‘Underscore’ Pressing Need For Public Rail – Cortes (13 Apr) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has said financial results from Abellio ScotRail showing a pre-tax loss of £64.5m – up from an £11m loss the year before – “underscore the pressing need for Scotland’s railways to be in public hands.” The Dutch owned company blamed the losses on the pandemic. After a long campaign by TSSA and others the Scottish Government announced last month that the franchise would be taken over by a public sector body from the end of March 2022 read more
Unite
Support the indefinite bus strike in Manchester – follow Go Ahead STOP the attacks on Queens Road Facebook page
Khan and Burnham must outlaw fire and rehire in London and Manchester buses (15 Apr) – Unite, Britain’s leading union, is today (Thursday 15 April) calling on the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to publicly back a declaration to outlaw fire and rehire on bus services. Activists will deliver the declarations to London City Hall (SE1 2AA ) and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s office (M1 6EU) at 1.00pm on Thursday 15 April. The Go Ahead group which owns bus services in London and Manchester (Go North West) is using the disgraceful fire and rehire tactic to attack Manchester bus drivers’ pay and conditions. Other bus workers could face a similar fate unless the leaders of London and Manchester act. The Mayors have the power to outlaw fire and rehire by barring employers which use this immoral tactic from bidding for bus contracts controlled by Transport for London and Transport for Greater Manchester. Over 400 drivers in Manchester have been on all out strike since Sunday 28 February. Go North West’s fire and rehire plans mean bus drivers will be forced to work longer for no additional pay. Go North West is expecting its drivers to undertake 130 hours of unpaid work per annum, resulting in drivers being £2,500 a year worse off. Go North West is also intent on tearing up the existing sick pay policy, which will result in a 67 per cent cut in sick pay for workers with over five years’ service. Unite executive officer Sharon Graham said: “Today we are calling on Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan to publicly back a declaration which bars employers who use fire and rehire from bidding for future contracts in the great cities of London and Manchester. Warm words in support of the bus drivers in Manchester who are under attack are simply not enough and workers in London could be next. It’s time to act…” read more
Bus drivers vote for strike action over Metroline’s controversial ‘remote sign-on’ policy in London (12 Apr) – More than 4,000 bus drivers working for Metroline in London have overwhelmingly voted for strike action over the controversial ‘remote sign-on’ policy, Unite the union, said today (Monday 12 April). Unite said that unless ‘remote sign-on’ is scrapped dates for strike action will be announced soon, as Metroline has stated it is only pausing the introduction of ‘remote sign-on’. London’s mayor Sadiq Khan instructed the bosses at Transport for London (TfL) last month to introduce an immediate moratorium, which will not be lifted until detailed research into ‘remote sign on’ is completed. A total of 96 per cent of Metroline West and 97 per cent of Metroline Travel members have voted for strike action on Metroline routes which cover north and west London. The company employs about 16 per cent of all bus drivers in the capital. ‘Remote sign-on’ means drivers do not report to a depot, but meet their bus at an alternative location, such as a bus stop. It forces drivers to start work away from the depot, reducing costs and boosting the company’s profits. The policy raises concerns over lack of toilets and canteens; increased driving hours; and waiting for the bus in unpredictable weather. Unite regional officer Mary Summers said: “The bus drivers at Metroline have delivered a massive mandate for strike action over ‘remote sign-on’ which has serious health & safety implications for our members. This unpopular policy should be jettisoned immediately…” read more
Fresh London bus strikes as peace talks fail (15 Apr) – Londoners face fresh public transport disruption as Unite, the UK’s leading union, announced further strike action involving bus drivers employed by London United, a subsidiary of the French owned company RATP, in the long running dispute over pay and attacks on workers’ conditions. Workers at all seven London United bus garages are on strike today (Thursday 15 April). The striking bus drivers operate from the Fulwell, Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Park Royal, Shepherd’s Bush, Stamford Brook and Tolworth garages. The highest level of disruption to commuters will be on routes in South and West London that the depots serve. The strikes today went ahead after talks brokered by the conciliation service Acas broke up late yesterday (Wednesday 14 April) without agreement. Unite has announced further strikes for Friday 23 April, Monday 26 April and Friday 7 May. With London gradually opening up from lockdown and public transport usage on the rise, each strike is causing increasing disruption and delays read more
Public meeting (hosted by Solidarity Shouts): Passenger Transport, the employers’ offensive and how to fight it – 7pm Friday 30th April. Register by emailing [email protected] Facebook event
BREAKING NEWS!! Doctors in Unite protest on Thursday over London GP practices being sold-off to private US healthcare company (20 Apr) – A protest against GP practices being taken over by US health insurance giant Centene Corporation – branded as ‘the accelerating privatisation of the NHS by stealth’ by Unite the union – is being held in London on Thursday (22 April). Campaigners, including members of Doctors in Unite (DiU), will be staging a socially-distanced protest outside Centene’s UK subsidiary Operose that recently took over the privately-owned AT Medics set up in 2004 by six NHS GPs and which runs 37 GP practices across London. The protest, conforming to Covid-19 regulations, will be at 77 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6XB between 15.00-16.00 on Thursday (22 April). Also scheduled to attend will be former Labour leader and MP for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn and Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar and Limehouse read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Chivas Brothers workers balloted as Unite moves towards industrial action (19 Apr) – Unite Scotland has today (19 April) confirmed that its membership at Chivas Brothers across Scotland are being balloted for industrial action following a breakdown in pay talks. Unite’s hundreds of members have rejected a pay offer from the drinks industry giant, which equates to a pay freeze. The nation’s leading trade union in the drinks industry has drawn attention to other companies who have offered their workforces greater pay awards such as William Grants (2.3%) and Edrington (2.2%), and the recent suspension of US tariffs on UK goods including single malt whiskies which will further boost the company’s profits. Chivas Brothers last posted accounts at Companies House for year ending 2019 which showed a £486 million profit after tax. The ballot opens on 19 April and closes on 10 May. If the ballot for industrial action is successful then strike action could affect the company’s Kilmalid, Strathclyde Grain Distillery, Southern Operations and Northern Operations from the middle of May. Chivas Brothers employs around 1,600 workers in Scotland. In December 2020, Unite members voted by 91% to reject the pay offer in a consultative ballot read more
Devonport naval base faces more disruption as tugboat crew to strike again for 24 hours in rostering row (19 Apr) – Another 24 hour strike is to be held by Plymouth tugboat crews in the continuing rostering dispute, which will again cause serious disruption to naval traffic in the docks, Unite the union warned today (Monday 19 April). About 40 tractor tug crew members employed by Serco Marine at Devonport’s naval base will strike from 07:00 on Monday 26 April until 06:59 on Tuesday 27 April 2021. This follows on from the first 24 hour strike (9/10 April) in the long-running dispute over the imposition of a new three weeks ‘on’ and three weeks ‘off’ roster. Unite has repeatedly said that there were serious health & safety risks for its members, including excessive tiredness, with the new three week system introduced in December. It also has adverse implications for their annual leave entitlement. The strike will again cause serious disruption to naval vessels, including submarines, which need the tugs to get into the docks and out again into open sea read more
New Magellan development exposes a “devastating miscalculation” (16 Apr) – Unite the union has reacted with surprise at the announcement by Magellan Aerospace that the company has secured planning permission for future development at its site in Llay, Wrexham. The planning development which is in line with pre-Covid assumptions relating to future demand within the aerospace sector, comes with a promise of 120 new jobs. This announcement has come on the back of the company making 240 of its workforce redundant in October of last year. Dave Griffiths, Unite regional officer, commented: “Our members who were made redundant last year on statutory redundancy terms will today be wondering why they lost their jobs when the company was at the same time planning to increase future capacity and production at the plant…” read more
Independent inquiry into NHS lobbying urgently needed, says Unite (19 Apr) – There should be a rapid independent inquiry into the growing lobbying scandal that is engulfing the NHS, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said today (Monday 19 April). Unite said the need for the inquiry was made more urgent by weekend media reports regarding Greensill Capital’s extensive lobbying for the Earnd app which would have enabled NHS staff to be paid daily read more
Staff at The Royal College of General Practitioners vote overwhelmingly for Unite to be their recognised trade union (16 Apr) – Staff members at The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, being their recognised trade union to represent them on pay and employment issues. The 200 plus staff members voted by 87 per cent on a 76 per cent turn-out in favour trade union representation, following two rounds of redundancies at the RCGP since the start of the pandemic last year. The RCGP, founded in 1952, is the professional body for more than 50,000 GPs. The employees work to maintain and encourage standards in general medical practice, as well as supporting GPs through all stages of their career read more
Supermarket shortages expected as workers at Banbury coffee plant start overtime ban from 1 May over ‘fire and rehire’ plans (16 Apr) – Nearly 300 employees at the JDE (Jacobs Douwe Egberts) site in Banbury, Oxfordshire, will start a continuous overtime ban from Saturday 1 May over ‘fire and rehire’ plans, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, announced today (Friday 16 April). And the union warned that the accumulative impact of the overtime ban, starting on 00.01 on 1 May, could lead to shortages of the nation’s favourite coffee brands, such as Tassimo, Kenco and L’OR Coffee, on supermarket shelves as the industrial action started to bite during May. It is planned that the action will escalate to full-scale strike action in June, unless the management enters into constructive negotiations with the union. Unite said its members had voted by an 87 per cent majority to strike over the decision by the Dutch-owned company to issue notice of dismissal and engagement for 291 employees read more
KBC: Shock announcement highlights importance of finance workers joining a union (Apr 16) – Unite, which represents members throughout the finance sector, today (Friday) expressed solidarity with KBC staff and the Financial Services Union following today’s shock announcement that the bank is in discussions with Bank of Ireland about selling its performing loan assets and liabilities preparatory to exiting the Irish market. Workers were left to hear of the development from the media read more
London councils urged to support employees who have suffered domestic abuse during pandemic (15 Apr) – The increase in domestic abuse across the general population caused by the pressures of the pandemic has prompted Unite the union to write to all 32 London boroughs asking them to instigate a three-point blueprint to support those employees who may have suffered such abuse. Unite has offered to meet local authority managers to chart a way forward as employers, after the union said there had been ‘a sharp increase in domestic abuse’ across the population since the first lockdown in March last year, which would include council employees. In the letter to the councils, Unite regional officer Onay Kasab wrote: “You will, of course, be aware that this has increased during the pandemic, exacerbated by lockdowns and economic pressure. We hope that you also agree that domestic abuse is a workplace issue…” read more
Ealing parking strikes latest in series of industrial disputes to hit outsourcer Serco (15 Apr) – Serco civil enforcement officers in Ealing have voted to strike over the targeting of union activists in the latest in a series of industrial disputes to hit the outsourcer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday 15 April). After a near unanimous vote, more than 40 civil enforcement officers will strike over Serco’s offer of severance to elected Unite representatives and activists in order to undermine trade union organisation. The dates for the strikes have yet to be announced. As well as targeting union reps and activists, Serco offered severance to individual employees in order to undermine collective consultation. Serco is also refusing to negotiate a new absence management policy for employees working on the Ealing contract. Unite believes the present policy is being used to unfairly dismiss employees and should be renegotiated. This dispute follows a botched and unjustified restructuring and redundancy programme that Serco tried to instigate in late 2019, with minimal consultation with Unite. Meanwhile, Serco catering workers at the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over bullying and the imposition of new rotas read more
Life Residential and Featherstone Leigh estate agents ‘facing further pain’ with fresh Goodlord strike ballot (8 Apr) – London estate agents using services from Goodlord are ‘facing further pain’ after striking workers from the lettings software provider were balloted for fresh industrial action over £6,000 pay cuts. More than 20 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed in Goodlord’s referencing department have been on strike since 22 February over fire and rehire plans that would see their pay plummet from £24,000 to £18,000. Goodlord provides services for a number of estate agents in London, including Life Residential, Best Estate Agents, Andrews and Featherstone Leigh. The ballot for another round of strike action takes into account not just the pay cuts, but the dismissal and hostile targeting of union members while on strike, as well as Goodlord’s use of agency labour during the industrial action. It opens on 14 April and closes on 26 April read more See Reel News video of Goodlord strike 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
St Mungo’s maintenance strikes called as concern at charity’s ‘bullying and anti-union culture’ grows (8 Apr) – Maintenance workers at the St Mungo’s housing charity will begin indefinite strike action from Thursday 22 April in response to ‘appalling treatment’ by senior management, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said today (Thursday 8 April). The all-out strike follows a warning in March by Unite, which has more than 500 members at St Mungo’s, that a ‘bullying and anti-union culture’ amongst the management at the London-based charity needed to be addressed. St Mungo’s staff staged walk-outs last year, in part due to the charity’s unbalanced and unfair use of disciplinary procedures. Unite pointed to the targeting of the 44 per cent of workplace reps at the charity, who are currently engaged in formal processes concerning their own employment, as evidence of an anti-union bias by management. Staff relations have become so bad within St Mungo’s property services department that 12 Unite members will begin indefinite strike action on 22 April. The strike was called after a number of staff grievances against property services senior management were dismissed read more
St Mungos management escalate dispute by suspending Unite rep – Orwellian move at St Mungos: management suspend Unite rep for grievance about bullying. In an Orwellian escalation of the crisis at St Mungo’s, management have suspended a union rep who had raised a grievance concerning bullying management. The grounds include that senior managers were distressed by the suggestion of a bullying management style. Astounding 44% of reps already facing formal processes regarding own employment. This twist follows a vote for strike action by this team following a failure to adequately investigate bullying management! 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
Support striking Reading hospital security guards – 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
Read document by Unite Community Cumbria branch: ‘Covid and the Tories – a world beating catastrophe’
PCS
Only a fifth of DWP staff feel safe going into jobcentres, PCS survey finds (19 Apr) – Nearly 80% of members don’t feel safe going into work, following the full reopening of job centres last week. The shocking stats obtained from a survey of over 1,000 members in DWP, found that 58% felt ‘unsafe’ going into work while another 21% said they ‘unsure.’ Only 21% of staff could say for certain that they ‘felt safe’ dealing with dozens of face-to-face claimant appointments in job centres up and down the country. PCS are clear that the vast bulk of the in-person interviews, carried out on Universal Credit and other benefits, can and should be done remotely. However, the union strongly suspects DWP is pursuing a policy of full re-opening in order to make it easier for JSA claimants to be sanctioned. DWP ordered jobcentres to be fully reopened last Monday despite opposition from PCS read more
DVLA member? Sign up for PCS meeting 19 April – Register for the PCS DVLA members’ meeting at 7pm on Monday (19) when we will discuss the next steps in our action against the employer over health and safety concerns. Following the well-supported strike action of more than 1,400 DVLA members, who are being made to work at a site which has seen over 600 positive cases since September 2020, we are keen to resume talks with the DfT and DVLA to reach agreement that brings an end to our dispute. The branch executive committee has met and agreed a course of action for next steps, including what will need to happen should we not reach agreement with the employer in the next leg of intensive negotiations read more
Further hostility from DVLA (14 Apr) – Following our well supported strike, DVLA management has ramped up its intimidation of our members and union reps. Since taking strike action last week, our members have seen an increasingly hostile response from the employer, firstly with striking staff being barred from overtime working after they had taken action and now the forensic questioning of members that have taken action by invoking their rights under Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act, which we believe is nothing short of intimidation read more
DVLA strike update and next steps (12 Apr) – PCS members in the DVLA took part in a hugely successful strike action, gathering public support. We are now seeking urgent talks with DVLA management. Last week (6-9 April), PCS members at the DVLA took unprecedented action against their employer over health and safety concerns at the DVLA site. Over 1,400 members, who are being made to work on the site which has seen over 600 positive cases since September 2020, took strike action, leaving the site deserted read more
PCS calls off OCS court security strike after improved pay offer (12 Apr) – PCS has called off six days of strike action after OCS tabled an improved pay offer for court security officers. Following intensive talks between PCS and OCS an improved pay offer was presented on Friday (9 April). The proposal is for a two-year settlement to cover the period April 2020- April 2021, and April, 2021 to April, 2022. A ballot of all PCS members will be held on the offer giving every member the opportunity to have their say 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 bosses push ahead with mass sackings of engineers (14 Apr) – British Gas doesn’t give a toss for either customers or staff and that being is shown today by the mass sackings of engineers who are badly needed by customers to clear huge backlog. British Gas go ahead today (April 14) with a mass sacking of striking gas engineers who refused to submit to corporate bullying to accept a 15% cut in pay rates and other imposed changes in terms and conditions. This coincides with British Gas suspending the sale of boiler insurance cover amid scenes of ‘van graveyards’ from the vans returned by the sacked gas engineers read more
1,200 threatened jobs at Asda bakeries must be saved (15 Apr) – A cost-cutting Asda plan to cut 1,200 jobs from fresh baking has been condemned as being bad for workers and customers. GMB has called on Asda to reconsider plans that would see the supermarket scrap baking their products from scratch and replace them with part-baked products. More than 1,000 skilled, professional bakers’ jobs are on the line under the plan read more
Care worker mandatory vaccinations ‘incredibly bad idea’ (15 Apr) – Instead of using the care sector as a guinea pig for forced vaccinations, the government should increase the rate of Statutory Sick Pay, so that sick workers can afford to isolate. GMB, the union for care workers has hit out at UK government plans for mandatory vaccination of workers in the sector. Today Matt Hancock announced that the government was launching a five-week consultation on which could recommend blanket inoculation of care workers read more
Council faces rubbish pile up as GMB Refuse Collectors to strike over pay – “Council happy to allow dispute to escalate into full blown strike action even at risk of deeply upsetting residents”, say GMB Union. Reigate and Banstead faces rubbish pile ups after GMB council workers voted to strike over pay. Talks between the union and the local authority stalled after council bosses refused to meet with mediators ACAS without other parties being present. The majority of GMB members in the council work in refuse collection. Following the breakdown in talks, GMB has now confirmed the following dates for industrial action: Thursday April 8, Friday April 9, Thursday April 15 read more
Unison
Blackburn and Burnley Hospital security workers’ trade dispute over as they are brought in-house by NHS Trust (15 Apr) – Staff employed by private contractor Engie Services Ltd within East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust have cancelled all strike action they had planned to take over their employer’s failure to pay NHS rates. The security staff- who work at Burnley General Hospital and Royal Blackburn Hospital were set to begin a 48-hour strike on Sunday (18 April) at 7am. But in a dramatic turn of events, the hospital workers have cancelled all plans to strike after East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust took the decision to bring the security service in-house, meaning that hospital security workers will be employed by the NHS Trust rather than Engie read more
Pensions update for ODP’s (16 Apr) – UNISON’s Pensions Unit for Members has been assisting some of our ODP members with Special Class Status (SCS) claims (i.e. the ability to retire from the 1995 Section at 55 with an unreduced pension) and the first of these considered by The Pensions Ombudsman has been upheld! Of greater significance is that the Ombudsman’s formal Opinion determined that NHS Pensions have not been applying their scheme regulations correctly and that NHS Pensions insistence on the need to have a nursing qualification to be a nurse (and hence eligible for SCS) is not supported by the scheme regulations read more
Government must do more to persuade care staff to have the jab (16 Apr) – Attempting to force staff to comply by threatening their livelihoods is just plain wrong. Reacting to NHS data showing that care home staff vaccination rates in the majority of English local authorities are below the level recommended by SAGE scientists, UNISON senior national social care officer Gavin Edwards said: “Ministers know the areas where vaccination rates are low, but for some reason they aren’t taking the targeted action needed to increase the numbers…” read more
UNISON research reveals scale of council deficits (13 Apr) – Finances have been hit by increased spending to deal with COVID and a reduction in income because of the pandemic read more
Pay dispute at Cumberland Infirmary takes ugly turn for worse ahead of second round of strike action this week – A pay dispute at strike-hit Cumberland Infirmary has taken an ugly turn for the worse. Whilst hospital workers are planning to begin a second 48-hour strike on Friday (26 March), a new row has erupted over the way hospital domestics say they’re being punished for joining the picket lines. The domestics were among 150 frontline staff employed by private contractor Mitie who took two days of strike action in February and March over missing wages 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
CWU
Openreach strike intensifies as management adopts ‘ostrich position’ – Five more days of strike action have been announced in Openreach, with the CWU’s small but fiercely loyal membership of repayment project engineers (RPEs) more resolute and determined than ever to intensify their battle against the imposed regrading of their role. The 170-strong group have already notched up 10 days of industrial action over the company’s refusal engage with the union over legitimate concerns that the move creates a dangerous mismatch of responsibilities – detracting from their ability to act as ‘honest brokers’ in complex negotiations with third party organisations over who pays for what in situations where the network is disrupted by major developments. Despite heartfelt warnings to Openreach that placing the RPE role on the lowest rung of the managerial ladder – thereby applying performance related pay and targets to a function that primarily depends on impartial technical judgements based on advanced engineering knowhow – is misguided, bosses are still refusing to even contemplate the possibility that the regrading risks huge reputational damage and even regulatory penalties. With the latest of many CWU efforts to engage with management summarily rebuffed – despite indications that workstacks are now at breaking point following the five consecutive days of industrial action that concluded on March 24 – the decision has now been made to step the dispute with a solid week of industrial action commencing a week today (April 19-23) read more
Full steam ahead to industrial action ballot as members see through BT cash ‘bribe’ – Members across BT, Openreach and EE have delivered a resounding message of defiance after BT’s surprise attempt to kick this year’s pay review into touch by fobbing off employees with one-off cash ‘bung’. Within minutes of management’s disingenuous announcement yesterday (Wednesday) of “an exceptional package for an exceptional year” – and the simultaneous release of a CWU counter-message to members exposing the company’s “desperate move” for exactly what it is – there was no doubting which argument was winning amongst those who really count. Throughout the day all the CWU’s social media channels were bombarded with renewed messages of support from members for the union’s ‘Count Me In’ campaign of resistance against ruthless attacks on job security and hard won terms & conditions that have erupted across the whole of BT Group. In addition to countless furious social media posts, hundreds of emails were also received by the union from members expressing their astonishment and dismay at management’s apparent belief that employee anger over compulsory redundancies and looming site closures can be ‘bought off’ with a £1,000 ‘bribe’. Yesterday evening, no fewer than 14,000 tuned in to a special CWU Facebook Live session across the union’s social media channels – a record breaking real-time viewing figure which has continued to grow throughout today with catch-up views. Poignantly the Facebook Live broadcast took place at the end of the tenth day of industrial action by the unions small but fiercely loyal membership of Repayment Project Engineers (RPEs) in Openreach – themselves fighting against that division’s steadfast refusal to listen to genuine workforce concerns about the imposed regrading of their role. With anger now reaching boiling point across the whole of BT Group at the similar disregard being shown by top bosses to employee dismay at the company’s current trajectory, the union has now set up a special CWU solidarity fund to provide financial support for the 170-strong group of brave RPE strikers. “We will not leave this small group of members isolated,” stresses CWU general secretary Dave Ward. See full details here
Sign petition: Keep BT desk based sites open in London and the South East
NIPSA
DfC Members and Reps Update (16 Apr) – I wanted to provide an update on discussions this afternoon regarding with UC management on both Public Office Re-opening and Blended Working. We have been engaged with management for the last few weeks regarding the reopening of JBO offices to the public. These discussions are continuing and nothing has been finalised. That said, we have agreed that any re-opening would be on a staged basis with Stage 1 being on an appointment basis, 1 in/1 out basis and only where appropriate cleaning was in place. It is planned that this re-opening would be on 05 May 2021. Management have drafted communications for, customers, managers and staff and TUS have provided comments on this. These comments are being considered and it is hoped that agreement can be reached soon. I will be writing out to members when we have reached an agreement read more
QUB Creche Workers Commence Industrial Action – 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 read more
NEU
Support these NEU strikes:-
Action | Date | Contact |
Leaways School /Hackney
(TU Victimisation and Abuse of Disciplinary Procedures) |
Wednesday 21 April
Thursday 22 April |
[email protected] |
Parkwood Primary School / Hackney (Redundancies) | Thursday 22 April | [email protected] |
Victoria Education Centre / Bournemouth
(Redundancies) |
Tuesday 20 April
Wednesday 21 April Thursday 22 April |
[email protected] |
Worksop College & Ranby House/Notts
(TPS) |
Tuesday 20 April
Thursday 22 April |
[email protected] |
Stonyhurst College & St Mary’s Hall/Lancs
(TPS) |
Wednesday 21 April
Thursday 22 April |
[email protected] |
Cheadle & Marple SFC/ Stockport
(Pay) |
Wednesday 21 April | [email protected] |
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
Strike action at Devon school over attacks on pensions (19 Apr) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Mount Kelly School in Tavistock are to take the first of six planned days of strike action on Wednesday over plans by their employer to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). Teachers at the school have been threatened with dismissal if they do not accept the proposed withdrawal from the TPS and downgrading of their pension benefits and securities. The employer has tried to justify this decision on financial grounds but has failed to provide the NASUWT with any evidence to support this or to answer basic questions about the decisions they have made read more
Wolverhampton teachers take strike action (16 Apr) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at St Peter’s Collegiate School in Wolverhampton are taking three days of strike action next week over adverse management practices including workload, health and safety and the failure to consult. Strike action is planned for Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd following the failure of the employer to adequately address the concerns of members about their working conditions read more
Hertfordshire teachers take strike action to protect pensions (14 Apr) – Teachers at St Christopher School in Letchworth Garden City are beginning the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow over plans by their employer to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). The proposals to withdraw from the TPS will leave teachers at the school with substantially inferior pension entitlements which will not provide them with the same benefits and securities in retirement read more
EIS
Scottish college graduations under threat as lecturers strike enters second month (18 Apr) – Lecturers in Scotland’s further education colleges are striking over plans to see them replaced by instructor-assessors, who are less qualified to teach and also paid less. The strike began on March 25 and is set to continue after an agreement struck by negotiators in the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) and Colleges Scotland failed to be ratified by the latter’s Employer’s Association, consisting of FE College principals. As a result, the action by lecturers – which means they are not marking, preparing classes, connecting to online teaching platforms or responding to students – is set to continue, with potential further action including a boycott of assessments, which could rule out graduations read more in The Scotsman
18 days of strike action at Forth Valley college – Starting from tomorrow (16 Mar), over 200 EIS members at Forth Valley College are set to take strike action in another escalation in the dispute over the removal of 30 lecturers’ jobs. College staff will be striking across three different campuses, including Falkirk, Alloa, and Stirling for 18 days over three months, from Wednesday 17 March. The decision to take industrial action follows a strike ballot that resulted in 77% of members voting yes to the escalation, on a 55% turnout read more
UCU
Updates on latest UCU disputes
Petition calling for fair funding and online learning
UCU to fight closure of history & language courses at Aston University (16 Apr) – UCU launched a petition against the closure of the department of history, languages and translation at Aston University. The launch comes after Aston University UCU members voted unanimously to resist the department’s closure at a branch meeting. Aston University has told staff that at least 24 jobs are at risk of redundancy due to its plans to close the department. Closure would mean over 12 undergraduate courses being cut, including BScs in international business & modern languages, history & politics, and history & English literature. Around 220 students currently study within the department. The university wants to close the department to new students from September 2022, with all courses set to finish by 2026 read more
University of Leicester staff vote for industrial action over job cuts (14 Apr) – UCU members at the University of Leicester have voted for industrial action in a dispute over compulsory redundancies. Around 70% of members who voted are willing to take strike action, with 84% backing action short of a strike, which could involve a marking and assessment boycott. The result comes after management were accused of bullying tactics during the ballot. The university has threatened 145 staff with compulsory redundancy, although that number is now slightly lower due to some staff taking voluntary redundancy or accepting inferior contracts. Managers deny there are any financial reasons for planned redundancies – and refuse to share data on finances with campus trade unions. But the university’s 2019/20 financial statements show the institution is having to borrow money in order to remain financially viable. The accounts also make clear that ‘further savings and efficiencies’ might be required. UCU said the result was an emphatic endorsement for action and that its members were willing to boycott marking and assessments unless the university withdraws all threats of compulsory redundancy. It also said it has a mandate to take further industrial action, including strike action, if needed read more
UCU response to 17 May university return (13 Apr) – Responding to the UK Government’s announcement that English universities will resume in-person teaching no earlier than 17 May, University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘The UK government has consistently disregarded the needs of university staff and students throughout this pandemic, treating them as an afterthought at best. So unfortunately, it is no surprise that it has only confirmed university learning will remain online the day after many students have already started their summer term read more
Three days of strikes announced for prison education staff across England (13 Apr) – UCU announced three days of strike action at prisons across England over Covid health and safety concerns. UCU prison education members will stage a one-day walkout at 49 prison and young offender institutions on Monday 26 April followed by a two-day strike on Tuesday 11 May and Wednesday 12 May. Further industrial action may be announced if the employer, Novus, fails to resolve the dispute 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
NUJ calls for justice for Lyra McKee (16 Apr) – NUJ supports calls by the family for witnesses in the Creggan area of Derry on 18 April 2019 to come forward with any information which may assist in the prosecution of those responsible for her killing read more
NUJ statement in support of Sima Kotecha (16 Apr) – The BBC reporter was subjected to abuse while preparing for a live broadcast; a man has since pleaded guilty read more
USDAW
Usdaw renews calls for legislation to protect staff after abuse against shopworker worsens during the pandemic (14 Apr) – Retail trade union Usdaw is today giving evidence to the influential Home Affairs Select Committee outlining the need for legislation to protect retail staff read more
Mandate (Ireland)
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
IWGB
Workers Fight Racial Discrimination at UK’s Biggest Parenting Charity (16 Apr) – The Charity Workers Branch of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) are campaigning against racial discrimination targeted at workers at the National Childbirth Trust. Ahead of a parliamentary debate on 19 April about the large racial disparity in maternal mortality in British hospitals, practitioners at the National Childbirth Trust are fighting back against racial discrimination in their workplace read more
VICTORY: Foster Carers Are Workers for the Purpose of Article 11 (16 Apr) – The Court of Appeal handed down a judgement that declared foster carers are workers for the purpose or Article 11. However, this still falls short of guaranteeing basic conditions for foster care workers and is limited to the right to unionise. Consequently, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is now calling on Parliament to intervene and update legislation in line with the judgement read more
UVW
St Mary’s workers celebrate the end of outsourcing (16 Apr) – Hundreds of workers at St. Mary’s Hospital are ending their week on a high celebrating by the news that their move in-house will become permanent. The outsourced cleaners, caterers and porters at St. Mary’s Hospital in West London, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and 1000 of their colleagues at several other hospitals across the Trust, became in-house NHS staff in 2020 following a historic dispute that saw a wave of strike action, sit ins, occupations and extensive media coverage. Achieving what many had said was “impossible”. The workers had been outsourced since the early 2000s. In that time they had been employed by several contractors, and like so many other outsourced workers in the NHS, they found themselves denied the same levels of pay and T&Cs as in-house workers. Rates and T&Cs known in the industry as Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts. But after a hard fought battle management made an offer, the workers would be brought in-house and immediately given AfC rates of pay, sick pay, and access to an AfC pension scheme, but a decision on whether to make the arrangement permanent and place the workers on full AfC contracts would be made after a 24 month trial. The workers accepted the offer read more
Other News
Tamil Solidarity trade union newsletter and model motion
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement
Protest outside Spycops hearing – Monday 26 April 11am, Outside Amba Hotel, Marble Arch. We demand an end to political policing and infiltration of the labour movement and we demand the UCPI cover the legal costs so TUs can fully participate in the inquiry and get core participant status, currently denied them
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
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
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
Diary
NSSN Conference 2021: 11am Sunday 20th June online via Zoom 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