This week’s NSSN bulletin headlines with two indefinite Unite strikes. This solidarity is even more necessary because in both disputes, workers are claiming that attempts at strike-breaking are happening. Please support them and the all the other struggles in our weekly bulletin. Solidarity!
Local MPs pressure Actavo as Scunthorpe Scaffolders strike gets underway (26 Jan) – Five local MPs have written to Actavo bosses to put pressure on the ‘intransigent’ company to end the dispute with scaffolders at British Steel. The workers have begun continuous strike action today (26 January) at the steel works in Scunthorpe. Letters have been sent to Actavo from; Ed Miliband MP for Doncaster North (Labour), Stephanie Peacock MP for Barnsley East (Labour), Yvette Cooper MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Labour), Andrew Percy MP for Brigg & Goole (Conservative) and Holly Mumby-Croft MP for Scunthorpe (Conservative). The workers are in a long running dispute with their employer Actavo (UK). But Unite says that the client, British Steel, must also take responsibility for this long running dispute. The scaffolders have already taken 12 weeks of strike action in 2021. The workers are being paid up to 15 per cent below the agreed rate for the job under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). The union and thousands of supporters are calling on Actavo and British Steel to take responsibility for the ‘mess’ they have created by refusing to apply the national agreement and pay workers the rate for the job read more
Follow @UniteNEYH & @UnitedScaffs on twitter
Donate to strike fund:-
Either via bank transfer – sort code: 60-83-01 account number: 20173962, account name: Unite North East Region 1% Fund, reference: Actavo Limited and your branch number
Or 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 (Actavo Limited Dispute). Letters of support can be sent to the Regional Office
Coventry bin strikes begin as Labour council reneges on promised offer (31 Jan) – An all-out continuous bin strike began today (Monday 31 January) in Coventry after council leaders reneged on a commitment to make a fresh offer in the dispute over pay. Representatives from Unite, the UK’s leading union, met with Coventry council’s political leadership last Monday (24 January) and were promised that a new offer would be made by the council that week, increasing hopes that a settlement could be reached in the dispute involving refuse collection HGV drivers. Unite held several formal negotiation sessions with the council but no fresh offer was tabled over the central issue of low pay. At the negotiations on Friday (28 January) the talks concluded with the council promising to send a formal offer by 16:00 that day. However, no offer was made. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is shameful that Coventry council reneged on a promise to table a fresh offer which could have ended this dispute. Coventry residents should be demanding answers about what on earth the council is playing at. They are constantly saying one thing then doing another. Unite does what it says on the trade union tin and it always puts the jobs, pay and conditions of its members first. The union will be unwavering in its support for our members in Coventry getting a fair deal on a regrading” read more
Agency worker recruitment by Coventry council exposed in bin dispute (27 Jan) – Union has established that the Labour council is prepared to pay agency bin-lorry drivers more than the hourly rate which they are refusing to pay Unite drivers in their regrading dispute. Unite asks council leader and the chief executive – “Why not pay the rate for the job and end the strike rather than paying out even more taxpayers’ money which won’t resolve the current stalemate?” Unite, the UK’s leading union, has learnt that a company wholly owned by Labour-controlled Coventry council is seeking to recruit temporary refuse drivers in an attempt to undermine the on-going Coventry bin strike. The union has challenged this and demanded answers of the council and councillors read more. Workers are taking ‘all-out’ strike action from Monday to Friday each week. The strikes are scheduled to continue until Wednesday 23 March. An overtime ban is already in place
Follow @UniteWestMids on twitter
Coventry bin worker’s strike fund – Unity Trust Bank; Name of Account: Unite WM/7116 Branch Coventry Local Government; Account number: 20302665 Sort code: 60-83-01; send messages of solidarity to [email protected]
NSSN news
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And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
Union News
RMT
RMT calls for meeting with the First Minister (31 Jan) – Scottish Government is planning to privatise the contract for lifeline ferry services in the west of Scotland. CALMAC Union RMT today called for a meeting with Ministers in response to weekend press reports that the Scottish Government is planning to privatise the contract for lifeline ferry services in the west of Scotland read more
Transport and energy workers to protest tomorrow 31st January in Edinburgh (30 Jan) – RMT to protest tomorrow in Edinburgh against betrayal of COP26 promises. Marking the three-month anniversary of the beginning of the COP26 Climate Conference transport and energy workers are to march to the office of the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tomorrow to protest at the betrayal by the SNP / Green Government of commitments made to move towards a greener Scotland. The protest by rail, ferry and energy workers who are members of the RMT will be the start of a concerted campaign to increase the pressure on politicians as the country approaches the local government elections in May read more
RMT calls for LU to end their deafening silence (28 Jan) – Night Tube strike action goes ahead this evening. LONDON TRANSPORT UNION RMT has called on London Underground to end it’s deafening silence over continuing negotiations as the latest phase of Night Tube weekend strike action goes ahead this evening read more
RMT Catering survey (28 Jan) – As passengers return to the railway, a new RMT survey reveals that train companies will provide less food and drink on short and long-distance journeys. A survey of over 1000 rail workers who supply and help sell food and drink on the UK’s railways has revealed that 85% of rail caterers think that the Government and train companies will look to cut catering services and jobs in the future and 90% think that cuts to rail catering will make it more difficult for passengers to get food and drink during journeys read more
Ben Nevis collision highlights hidden safety threat (27 Jan) – Collision with a Valaris drilling installation. Commenting on the news that the Ben Nevis offshore supply vessel had collided with a Valaris drilling installation, Mick Lynch, RMT General Secretary said: “The previous owner of the Maltese-flagged Ben Nevis was caught out by maritime regulators in Aberdeen and Rotterdam for failing to pay seafarers wages, and at poverty rates. Now the new owner has been involved in an incident which reflects a safety culture underpinned by commercial pressures. The Valaris installation was damaged and lives were endangered, as the vessel was knowingly operated in contravention of procedures and good maritime practice. Commercial pressure is driving this dangerous behaviour…” read more
Pacific Nuclear Transport Fleet workers pay freeze (27 Jan) – RMT calls on Government to reverse decision. SEAFARERS’ UNION RMT today called on the Government to reverse a pay freeze imposed on seafarers working on the Pacific Nuclear Transport Ltd (PNTL) fleet. PNTL seafarers have been hit with the 0% public sector pay freeze for 2021-22, despite the importance of their jobs to national security and the environment. Crews are contracted to work up to 18 weeks at sea transporting nuclear waste from Barrow to Australia, via Japan read more
Soaring inflation biting into low paid workers’ wages (26 Jan) – Workers on the National Minimum Wage and the Real Living Wage are more than £1,000 worse off now than 12 months ago as a result of soaring inflation. Workers on the National Minimum Wage and the Real Living Wage are more than £1,000 worse off now than 12 months ago as a result of soaring inflation, according to new research published by the RMT today. As RPI inflation reached 7.5% in December 2021 it meant that a worker on the National Minimum Wage would need £1,252 more a year to prevent a real terms pay cut while a worker on the Real Living Wage would need £1,395 more. The research is published as rail cleaners on four contracts in the South-East ballot for strike action and train cleaners on the West Coast services take strike action for a pay rise. All the cleaners involved are paid either at the National Minimum Wage rate of £8.91 per hour or the Real Living Wage rate of £9.90 per hour read more
Heroic West Coast train cleaners strike for pay justice – Atalian Servest cleaners strike action tomorrow (19 Jan) in pursuit of fair pay. Heroic train cleaners working to keep Avanti West Coast trains clean and safe for passengers will begin strike action tomorrow in pursuit of fair pay. The cleaners, who have worked throughout the pandemic to keep essential transport services running, are employed by Atalian Servest Limited, a multi-national outsourcing company based in France. Like many outsourced cleaners, they are paid £9.68 per hour, less than the Real Living Wage and have no company sick pay, meaning that they frequently come into work when sick because they cannot make ends meet read more
RMT Members vote yes for Tube strike – London Transport Union RMT confirms members vote yes for action as London Underground refuse to give assurances on jobs, pensions and working conditions. LONDON TRANSPORT UNION RMT confirmed that members voted yes for strike action and action short of a strike in a ballot of over ten thousand members across all grades of LU staff that closed today. 94% of members voted to strike. The ballot took place after LUL members were refused assurances on jobs, pensions and working conditions in the midst of an on-going financial crisis driven by central Government. The union’s LUL reps and executive committee are considering the result but says that it will take whatever action is necessary to prevent staff paying the price for a financial crisis that is not of their making read more
TSSA
Solidarity for Canadian Boilermakers’ lockout (28 Jan) – TSSA has sent a message of solidarity to our Boilermaker comrades in Canada this week after it emerged that federal covid relief funds were used to employ scab labour in a long running dispute. Boilermakers’ union members at an engineering firm have been locked out for 18 months after they opposed attacks on their pay and working conditions. In a shocking revelation, it now appears that the company – called CESSCO – took government funds meant to help businesses through the pandemic to pay for other workers to undermine the strike action – often referred to as ‘scab labour’ read more
Anti-social behaviour will thrive if booking offices close (27 Jan) – Ticket office closures will make rail travel less attractive warn unions. The four rail unions today (Thursday) challenged Scottish Councillors to defend their constituents against Abellio ScotRail’s plans to close or reduce the opening hours of 123 ticket offices. ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite wrote to council leaders on Monday warning that the move to cut ticket office services discriminates against vulnerable communities and will make rail travel a less attractive option, for women, for people with disabilities and the elderly read more
TSSA welcomes Belly Mujinga inquest (26 Jan) – TSSA has today welcomed confirmation that a public inquest into the death of TSSA member Belly Mujinga will be held this summer. Belly Mujinga worked in Victoria Station in central London and died from coronavirus in April 2020. She had reportedly been shouted at, coughed and spat on by a customer on the concourse shortly before she contracted the virus. She left behind her husband and young daughter. Andrew Walker, senior coroner for North London, announced that the inquest will start on 27 June 2022 and will last for up to seven days read more
Unite
Government last minute U-turn on NHS staff vaccinations welcome, but must report soon to end anguish for workforce (1 Feb) – Unite, which has 100,000 members in the health service, said NHS staff can breathe a sigh of relief for the moment with the confirmation that health and social care secretary Sajid Javid was now entering into a consultation on the issue of mandatory vaccinations for the workforce. However, the union warned that last night’s eleventh hour announcement has only prolonged the uncertainty for the NHS which is engulfed in a staffing crisis. Unite said that the consultation must be swift and decisive. Unite said it was strongly in favour of NHS and social care staff being fully vaccinated, but has been consistently against mandatory vaccination which could have led to thousands of vitally needed frontline workers losing their jobs in April read more
London, Essex and Kent braced for bus delays as Arriva drivers ballot for strikes over ‘pitiful’ pay offer (1 Feb) – Bus passengers across London, Essex and Kent are facing severe disruption this spring, as bus drivers employed by Arriva ballot for industrial action following a ‘pitiful’ pay offer. Over 1,300 drivers are being balloted for strike action after being offered a pay increase of just 1.5 per cent; a sizeable real terms pay cut when the retail price index (RPI) inflation rate is currently 7.5 per cent read more
FCA staff tell bosses “sit down and negotiate” as members vote ‘YES’ in industrial action ballot (1 Feb) – The union which represents staff at the regulator has announced today (Tuesday 1 February) that FCA Unite members have voted by 87% in support of industrial action against proposed cuts to pay and conditions. Unless a negotiated settlement is reached Unite can now proceed to a full industrial action ballot. The cuts, championed by CEO Nikhil Rathi, threaten to damage the interests of savers, borrowers and businesses by creating a bargain basement regulator read more
Sheerness docks strikes end after workers defeat ‘fire and rehire’ threat (1 Feb) – Strikes by Sheerness dock workers employed by GB Terminals have ended after the company backed down over fire and rehire plans, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (1 February). More than 30 staff, who process Volkswagen Group vehicles that arrive in Sheerness by car transporter ferry, would have been impacted by GB Terminals’ plans to change minimum overtime hours through fire and rehire. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “GB Terminals staff beat back the threat of fire and rehire by taking collective action as members of Unite read more
Unite pay victory for Ford contract cleaners at Dagenham and Dunton (31 Jan) – Cleaners at Ford Dagenham and the Ford Dunton Technical Centre in Essex have accepted a 5.1 per cent pay rise for 2022, Unite the union announced today (Monday 31 January). Over 150 cleaners, employed by Hamton Environmental Services cleaning contractors, have overwhelmingly voted to accept a one year 5.1 per cent pay deal backdated to 1 January 2022. The pay deal also included a commitment by senior management to sit down with Unite to discuss specific concerns members face regarding the company’s sickness policy in an effort to try to reach agreement read more
Department for Communities must direct Housing Executive to take on the management of Regina Coeli House to secure vital support service for vulnerable women (31 Jan) – Unite meet with Legion of Mary to clarify their future role in keeping the hostel open. Union offers to fund a professional building survey to identify what substantial work is needed, since management committee continue to refuse to share the survey which is being used to justify closure. On Monday, the ‘work-in’ by hostel staff at Regina Coeli House against its threatened closure enters its fourth week. Since the commencement of the protests at this unique women-only hostel Unite the union has sought a direct meeting with representatives of the Legion of Mary. On Friday [January 28th] the union met with Legion representatives. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham welcomed the development and expressed her hopes for a resolution read more sign petition
Unite response to ‘Tips’ legislation: Ring-fencing of tips welcome, but concern at mandatory service charges (31 Jan) – Union warns that mandatory service charge could reinforce profits while reducing customer tipping. January 31st: Trade union Unite, which represents hospitality workers throughout Ireland, has written to the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, outlining the union’s response to the ‘tips’ legislation published last week read more
British Airways and Heathrow airlines facing half term chaos as refuellers and ground handlers announce strike action (30 Jan) – Passengers booked on half-term breaks and skiing trips from Heathrow are set for severe delays, as a result of ground handling and refuelling company Menzies Aviation, refusing to even enter into pay negotiations, after previously firing and rehiring 810 of its workforce. Four hundred workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will take three days of strike action beginning on Friday 11 February beginning at 00:01hrs and finishing at 23:59 on Sunday 13th February 2020 read more
Serco outsourced workers at Barts begin a two week strike on Monday (28 Jan) – A rally will be held for the outsourced NHS workers outside Royal London Hospital. The workers are fighting against low pay and exploitation. This Monday (January 31), hundreds of key NHS workers, employed by the giant outsourcing company Serco, will begin a two week strike across Barts Health NHS Trust (see notes to editors). Speakers at the rally include Apsana Begum MP (Poplar & Limehouse) and John McDonnell MP (Hayes & Harlington). Unite members who are cleaners, porters, security, catering and reception staff across St Barts, Royal London Hospital, and Whipps Cross will take strike action between Monday 31 January and Sunday 13 February read more
PICKET LINES INFORMATION
The picket lines will be each day at the Royal London (Whitechapel Road), Whipps Cross (Whipps Cross Road), and St Barts (Little Britain) Hospitals from 5:30am to 11am, Monday to Saturday. Meet at the main entrances of the hospitals 30 minutes before your shifts is due to begin. Nights and Twilights shifts attend from 7am.
RALLY/DEMOS
Important to attend ALL of the rallies! Monday will be the main rally. Leave your picket line early (or go directly to rally if not at picket line).
Monday, January 31st at the Royal London Hospital – Speakers Including John McDonnell and other big names. (Dental Hospital on Turner Street, E1 1FR, at 11am)
Friday, February 4th at Whipps Cross Hospital (Main entrance on Whipps Cross Road E11 1NR at 11am)
DONATIONS TO STRIKE FUND: Barts Heath NHS LE/7384L – Unity trust 20344885 sort code 60-83-01. Pay online or post cheques to Len Hockey, 242 Willingale Road, Loughton IG10 2BX
SEND MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO [email protected]
Carntyne Transport workers secure 19% wage rise (28 Jan) – Unite Scotland has secured an inflation busting pay rise of 19% for cask handlers, heavy goods vehicle (HGV), forklift and shunter drivers employed by Carntyne Transport. Unite had been in dispute with the Springburn (Glasgow) based logistics firm, which is part of the Russell Group. The company employs around 300 workers in total but the pay deal covers an area of the business involving around 200 workers. The pay deal ensures a 19% rise on basic hourly pay and there will be a premium on every hour for those working over 9 hours a day of up to 35%. This represents a basic hourly wage rise increase from £12.60 to £15.00, and after 9 hours from £12.60 to £17.00 read more
Parliament to hear demands for NHS renationalisation, ahead of day of action against Health and Care Bill (28 Jan) – Members of Parliament are to debate a demand that the government restores England’s publicly provided NHS by reversing all privatising legislation, including ending private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. The debate, set for Monday (31 January), has been granted by the government after over 135,000 people signed a petition launched by Unite the union and Your NHS Needs You (YNNY) calling for the NHS to be renationalised. The petition also demands that plans for integrated care systems – partnerships between organisations providing health and care across an area – be scrapped read more
Stagecoach Cambus workers vote to accept a ‘significant’ pay rise, says Unite (28 Jan) – About 400 workers at Cambus – Stagecoach’s Cambridge division – who have not had a pay rise since April 2019, have voted for a new pay package which sees increases of between 7.4 and 12.2 per cent over an 18 month period, Unite the union said today (Friday 28 January). Unite said its members – drivers, engineers, cleaners and shunters – based at Cambridge, Fenstanton and Peterborough had voted overwhelmingly to accept the deal which also includes a lump sum of between £300 and £500. Strikes that were due to be held have been suspended and Unite’s members are working normally. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a significant pay deal for our members employed by Cambus…” read more
Pay deal agreed at Clyde naval bases after lengthy dispute (28 Jan) – Unite the union has today (Friday 28 January) confirmed that its members who provide specialist services for the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot (RNAD) Coulport have agreed a pay deal. Around 70 workers at RNAD Coulport will now receive a backdated pay award for 2020 and 2021, which beats the inflation rates applicable to the period. The Unite membership who were involved in the long running dispute are employed by three separate employers: AWE plc, Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd, and Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems Ltd. The ABL Alliance pay deal will include a £600 payment for 2020 along with a 3.5% pay increase effective from 1 August 2021. The award for 2021 represents an increase of between £908-£1,097 dependent upon the specific role of the workers. Unite’s members had been staging targeted days of 24-hour strike action since 16 December 2021, and have had an overtime ban in place since last November. Over 90% of Unite’s members based at RNAD Coulport previously voted ‘yes’ in support of strike action, and 95.3% supported action short of a strike, in a 90% ballot turnout in September 2021 read more
Alarm bells ring over Southern Trust move to end emergency surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry (28 Jan) – Decision leaves some parts of Northern Ireland 70 minutes from emergency surgery provision – and that in blue light conditions. Unite in the community will mobilise to defend access to basic emergency treatment and make it a major issue ahead of upcoming Assembly election read more
Unite prepares to ballot members at Collins Aerospace on strike action after workforce rejects latest inadequate pay offer (27 Jan) – Collins Aerospace owner B/E Aerospace remains profitable despite aerospace downturn and can afford to pay workers more. After a second rejection by the workforce of the latest below-inflation pay offer from management, Unite confirmed that it was proceeding to ballot workers on strike action at the Kilkeel-based Aerospace manufacturer. With the latest 12-month inflation measured by the retail price index surging to 7.5 per cent, workers at the Collins Aerospace are seeking a pay deal that protects their households from a crunching reduction in living conditions read more
Unite members across 321 councils are being balloted for strike action over ‘pathetic’ 1.75 per cent pay offer (27 Jan) – Unite’s local government members are currently holding strike ballots in response to the ‘pathetic’ 1.75 per cent pay offer branded as ‘completely unrealistic’, given the scale of the looming cost of living crisis. Unite’s 70,000 local government members, employed across 321 councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, are voting on whether to take strike action over the 1.75 per cent offer made by the Local Government Association (with 2.75 per cent for those on the bottom pay point) for 2021/22. The ballots are due to close by 25 February. Unite today (Thursday 27 January) called for a resounding vote for strike action as inflation is set to soar in the spring with the energy price spike. The RPI rate of inflation now stands at 7.5 per cent, which the union views as a more realistic measure of living costs than the CPI rate of 5.4 per cent that government ministers fall back on read more
Online public meeting (hosted by Solidarity Shouts): Public Service Workers United – 6.30pm Thursday 3rd February. Speakers include Kathy Smith Unite Executive Council & Bromley council branch Facebook event
Unite’s NHS members question Pay Review Body’s ability to recommend a ‘cost of living’ crisis pay award (27 Jan) – The credibility of the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) for England is under fire after a survey of Unite’s NHS members revealed that a vast majority did not believe it was truly independent when it came to recommending the annual pay award. Unite said 88 per cent of the 2,950 members in England who replied to its survey earlier this month felt the PRB was not recommending fair pay increases for staff and was failing to value their individual contributions. The PRB is due to report in May on its recommendations for the 1.2 million NHS workers in England for 2022/23. Unite, which has 100,000 members in the health service, said that the PRB was ‘drinking in the last chance saloon’ in terms of its credibility. The health trade unions, including Unite, this week submitted their joint written evidence to the PRB arguing for an increase for their members that reflects the coming cost of living crisis, as well as their efforts in combating the pandemic in a NHS which has an estimated 93,000 staff vacancies in England read more
Car companies and building product firms braced for severe delays as XPO workers announce strikes (26 Jan) – Over 400 workers, employed by logistics company XPO Transport Solutions Ltd, will begin strike action early next month in a dispute over low pay. The workers, who comprise both lorry drivers and warehouse workers and are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have been forced into taking industrial action as XPO has refused to address pay rates that are far lower than its rivals. The initial week long strike will begin on Monday 7 February and will last until Sunday 13 February and there is a further scheduled week-long strike from Monday 21 February and ending on Sunday 27 February read more
Striking B&Q warehouse workers to protest at Brendan Clarke-Smith jobs fair, after Worksop MP ‘mocks their plight’ (26 Jan) – On Friday, B&Q warehouse workers striking over poverty pay will protest outside a Worksop jobs fair being held by local MP Brendan Clarke-Smith over his refusal to support them. Some of the Unite the union members, who work at the B&Q national distribution centre at Worksop’s Old Manton Wood Colliery site, cannot afford to heat their homes and have had to use foodbanks to get daily necessities…Around 450 Wincanton staff, who make-up the vast majority of the warehouse’s workforce, have been on rolling strikes since November over pay rates as low as £9.96 an hour read more
Labour Party deputy leader Angela Rayner and local MPs in show of support for First Manchester bus drivers (26 Jan) – Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, other local MPs and local government leaders will attend a demonstration this Friday (28 January) in support of striking First Manchester bus drivers read more. The new days for strike action are Monday 31 January and then the following dates in February 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 15, 17, 18, 21, 23 and 25. Strike fund details – Unity Bank, AC: 33204828, Sort Code: 60-83-01, A/C Name: UNITE 6/235 BRANCH FUND
Economic forecasters to strike in a row over inflation – Economists and researchers at the world famous NIESR (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) will stage a two week strike in a row over two years of below inflation pay offers. The strike begins on Friday 21st January and ends on Friday 4 February. The action means that there is a very real possibility that the forthcoming forecasts for the UK and global economies, which have been published quarterly since the 1980s, will not go ahead. NIESR staff will be unable to deliver on project work for external partners and funders, and will be unable to participate in events and other dissemination activities. The RPI reached 7.1 per cent at the end of 2021 but NIESR bosses are sticking to their decision to give staff 0% for 2020-21 and just 2% for 2021-22. The pay offer fails to keep up with the rising cost of living and represents a significant pay cut in real terms read more
Strike action set to hit Dalkeith based FLB print firm – Unite the union has today (10 January) confirmed that around 110 workers at print and publishing firm FLB Group in Dalkeith, which owns the Filofax and Letts brands, will take strike action this week in a dispute over pay. The strike action will take place on Wednesday (12 January) at 6am and conclude at 05:59am on Thursday. It is the first of a series of 24 hour stoppages commencing every Wednesday into Thursday until 31 March. Some 95.7 per cent of the eligible workforce previously voted in support of strike action in late November on an 84.4 per cent turnout. The pay dispute originates from early 2021 when Unite’s members were informed by FLB that there would be no pay rise. Due to pressure from Unite, the company made several unsatisfactory offers that ended with a below inflation two-year offer of 2.75 per cent. Unite is demanding a six per cent pay increase at a time when the cost of living is at a ten-year high. The Retail Prices Index stood at 7.1 per cent in November 2021 read more
Strike action by Turners of Soham logistic drivers set to impact major aviation companies – Logistic drivers working for Turners of Soham based out of Grangemouth are set to begin strike action tomorrow (6 January) in a dispute over pay. The logistic drivers work on the Q8 Aviation Deliveries contract which provides fuel services for a number of major aviation companies. The strike action follows 100% of Unite members voting to take strike action, on a turnout of 100% at the end of December 2021, following a lack of progress after months of negotiations with the company. The current wave of strike action ends on 14 January at 24:00 hours with further dates to be planned in the coming weeks. Unite’s members based at Grangemouth have been offered an 8.7% increase, despite the same company awarding its drivers in the North West of England 17.5% in October of last year read more
Transport for London bosses ‘declare war’ as seven workers suspended at crisis-hit Woolwich Ferry – Transport for London (TfL) bosses were today (Tuesday 21 December) accused of ‘declaring war’ on the Woolwich Ferry’s workforce by Unite the union, as seven workers were suspended with no reason given. Unite also said that there needs to be an urgent investigation into so-called ‘technical issues’ that mean the troubled ferry operation will be out of action until the New Year. The union has, therefore, called off planned strike action in the first fortnight of January, due to start on Monday 3 January. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “We are also demanding an investigation into the on-going technical difficulties with the ferry which means there will be no ferry service until sometime in the New Year. As a result, we will be suspending at least the first two weeks of our industrial action in January. The strikes, once they commence, are due to run until the end of March…” read more
Chep workers in Manchester to extend strikes as pallet shortage deepens – Workers employed by pallet makers Chep UK Limited, are set to embark on all out continuous strike action from this Friday (17 December) in a dispute over pay. The workers, who belong to Unite, the UK’s leading union, have already taken four days of strike action since the strike began earlier this month. They are stepping up their action as there has been no engagement or negotiations with the company since the dispute began read more
East Lancashire NHS Trust intransigence forces new period of strike action by biomedical scientists – East Lancashire NHS Trust intransigence forces new period of strike action by biomedical scientists. Bosses at East Lancashire NHS Trust must shoulder the blame for a new 12 week strike which starts today (15 December). Blackburn and Burnley biomedical scientists will re-start strike action today (Wednesday 15 December) in a dispute over unpaid wages. Union negotiators met with the Trust on Tuesday (7 December) last week in an attempt to identify a solution to the dispute. It was an opportunity to avoid further strike action and to re-establish union / Trust relations. On the eve of the strike, the Trust had still failed to take up the opportunity to end the dispute read more
Strike action by Ponticelli/Semco workers in North Sea ‘rock solid’ – Unite the union today (6 December) confirmed that strike action by around 300 members working for Ponticelli UK Ltd and Semco Maritime Ltd has been ‘rock solid’ in the North Sea. The strike action is over a pay dispute with an improved pay offer being recently rejected by Unite members by 85% on an 80% return. It is scheduled to take place over a series of days until late February 2022, including a permanent overtime ban, unless there is ‘significant movement’ by Ponticelli UK Ltd and Semco Maritime Ltd (Full List of dates below). Unite’s members involved in the strike action work on the Total Energies contract on the following assets; Alisa FSO, Culzean, Dunbar, Elgin Franklin, Gryphon FPSO, North Alwyn & Shetland Gas Plant. Unite’s Ponticelli UK Ltd members previously voted overwhelmingly to take strike action by 93.6% on a return of 64.8%, and Semco Maritime Ltd members voted to take strike action by 90.3% on a 61.4% return read more
Evonik workers at historic Manchester chemicals site strike over pay – Evonik workers at a 130-year-old Manchester chemicals site are to strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday 13 October). Around 25 production and warehouse operatives at Evonik’s Clayton site, which has been a chemical plant since 1892, are taking industrial action after rejecting a 1.5 per cent pay offer read more
PCS
PCS 2022 pay claims in departments and national ballot – see here for HM Land Registry, DCMS, Cabinet Office, Scottish Sector, BEIS, Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, DWP, MOJ, Attorney General’s Office, Department for Education, DfT, Welsh Government and Senedd Commission, Defra, Ministry of Defence
PCS responds to DWP mass return to work (28 Jan) – The union’s DWP group executive committee (GEC) met yesterday and agreed to demand urgent negotiations with DWP and press for a range of measures read more
PCS condemns government “Way to Work initiative” (27 Jan) – Ministers have been criticised for changing the rules around Universal Credit and job seeking, making sanctions more likely. Claimants will now be given just four weeks – down from three months – to find a job within their preferred sector read more
GPA agreement for Bouygues staff to receive full Wages for Covid-19 (27 Jan) – All Bouygues staff are entitled to receive their full wages if sick through Covid-19. Read about the Government Property Agency agreement. The Government Property Agency (GPA) has agreed that all outsourced Facilities Management (FM) staff employed on the contracts they are responsible for will receive their full wages if they become unwell due to Covid-19. This agreement lasts until 31 March 2022. At which point the GPA will review if it needs to continue read more
Time to pay the London Living Wage (27 Jan) – PCS is campaigning for the London Living Wage to be the minimum pay rate paid to all union members working on government, outsourced Facilities Management contracts read more
PCS balloting members in Atos over pay (27 Jan) – Members are being asked if they are prepared to take strike action, following rejection of the employer’s pay offer. PCS is in dispute with Atos over their refusal to meet our claim for a consolidated 5% increase, £1300 underpin for the lowest paid, plus a £600 one off payment in recognition of the contribution of our members throughout the pandemic (most of them were classed as “key workers” and have been in the office throughout) read more
Common Platform Update (26 Jan) – The Common Platform Dispute Resolution Team met with Kevin Sadler as part of stage 2 of the Dispute Resolution Procedure (DRP) read more
Pay and Pensions Rallies – come along to have your say (26 Jan) – Ahead of our consultative ballot, we are holding a series of online rallies to talk about the campaign and hear your views. In advance of the national consultative ballot which starts on Monday 14 February, PCS is holding a series of online rallies in virtual venues across the UK. Details of the rallies can be found on our events pages read more
Campaigning on pay in Mitie (25 Jan) – PCS won better pay and conditions for Mitie workers in 2021 and has submitted a pay claim for 2022. PCS is campaigning for better pay and conditions for all Mitie workers. Our campaigns and negotiations achieved various gains in 2021 read more
The future for thousands of HMRC staff secured following campaigning by PCS (25 Jan) – HMRC has announced plans for a new regional centre in Portsmouth and confirmed the second phase of Glasgow Regional Centre will remain at East Kilbride read more
PCS to brief MPs during British Council ballot (25 Jan) – PCS will be meeting with MPs on 9 February to brief them about why we are balloting our members in British Council for industrial action. PCS is currently balloting British Council members across the globe for industrial action over our demands of no compulsory redundancies, no further privatisation of jobs and a fair, open and transparent approach to negotiations. To support our industrial campaign, we are also stepping up our political campaigning. We will be holding a briefing for MPs on Wednesday 9 February from 4-5pm read more
GMB
Covid vaccine u-turn too late for thousands of care workers (31 Jan) – GMB has responded to the Government’s u-turn on mandatory vaccine for NHS and care staff. Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: “GMB’s position on mandatory vaccines has been consistent – we oppose legally enforced medical procedures as a condition of employment – it’s heavy-handed and will deepen the staffing crisis. Persuasion and encouragement are how to address concerns around the vaccine. The Government’s u-turn comes too late in the day for thousands of workers in our care homes who have already lost their jobs because of an unrealistic vaccination policy…” read more
Asda workers to vote on pay deal (31 Jan) – GMB union has begun balloting Asda distribution workers over a new pay deal today. Nearly 8,000 GMB members working in Asda warehouses will vote on whether to accept a revised pay offer from the supermarket giant. Asda previously refused to make a meaningful pay offer to distribution workers, leading 94 per cent of GMB members indicating they were prepared to take strike action. The company then made an improved offer to workers. The ballot closes on 14 February read more
Croydon Hospital porters and cleaners demonstrate for covid sick pay (31 Jan) – GMB members will protest today outside Croydon Hospital in their fight for covid sick pay. Protest takes place at 12 noon today [31 January 2022] at Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Rd, CR7 7YE. The workers, cleaners and porters within the hospital trust, will demonstrate peacefully to call for full sick pay from their outsourced employer G4S. Politicians and other NHS workers, including doctors and nurses from the trust, will join the demonstration to voice their support – concerned about the massive public health risk posed by the lack of covid sick pay read more
Covid sick pay non payment could lead to Croydon Hospital strikes (25 Jan) – GMB is warning private contractor G4S denying full sick pay to workers may result in strike action. Outsourcing giant G4S – which holds the cleaning and portering contract with Croydon University Hospital NHS Trust – has stopped paying covid sick pay to employees, leaving workers reliant on statutory sick pay read more
Doctors back Croydon Hospital workers’ fight for covid sick pay (26 Jan) – The doctors – who represent the British Medical Association on the Local Negotiating Committee – have pledged to support a GMB protest outside the hospital on 31 January 2022. They have also written to the CEO of Croydon University Hospital to appeal for him to directly intervene to ensure workers receive the London Living Wage and occupational sick pay. Outsourcing giant G4S – which holds the cleaning and portering contract with Croydon University Hospital NHS Trust – has stopped paying covid sick pay to employees, leaving workers reliant on statutory sick pay read more
The protest will take place as follows: Monday 31 January 2022 at 12noon,
Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Rd CR7 7YE read more
More than two thirds of NHS workers ‘have considered quitting’ (27 Jan) – More than 70 per cent of NHS workers have considered quitting in the past six months, a new GMB survey shows. In a poll of almost 1,000 GMB members, 70.6 per cent answered yes to the question ‘Have you considered leaving the NHS in the last six months?’ This was a big rise on the previous year, when 61 per cent of NHS workers said that they had considered leaving. Almost 55 per cent cited stress as a main reason for wanting to leave, more than half said pay, 15 per cent said bullying and 8 per cent violence and abuse. Latest figures show 99,460 NHS vacancies in England in September 2021 read more
Barrow faces bin strike as GMB ballots refuse collectors (25 Jan) – Barrow faces a bin strike after GMB Union began balloting members for industrial action today [25 January 2022]. More than 20 refuse collectors working for FCC Environment will vote on whether to walk out. The ballot closes on 7 February. If the strike goes ahead, more than 33,000 households in Barrow could be affected read more
Adur & Worthing next in line for bin strike as members vote for action – GMB is set to formally ballot refuse collector members for strike action in Adur and Worthing. A consultative ballot, which closed today [19 January 2022] saw 92.5% of members unanimously vote in favour of industrial action. GMB refuse collectors in nearby Brighton and Eastbourne have separately won above inflation pay rise after long-running strike action in recent weeks read more
Striking workers at Somers Forge turn up the heat – GMB members at Somers forge are set for strike action tomorrow (17th December). The union has also announced further strike dates on 21st December 2021, and the 5th,12th, 21st and 24th January 2022. The move comes after members rejected the latest pay deal of 4% over two years, but with the company refusing to backdate the award to the pay anniversary of April read more
Unison
Jab backdown the right thing to do, but the damage has already been done, says UNISON (31 Jan) – These ill-thought-out rules have worsened the staffing crisis hampering the NHS and social care and caused significant upset read more
UNISON pay ballot of Care Quality Commission staff opens (28 Jan) – CQC staff are key to the safety of hospitals, care homes and emergency services around the country. Staff at the Care Quality Commission in England will today (Friday) begin to vote in a strike ballot after being denied a pay rise this year, says UNISON. CQC employees – who inspect, monitor and regulate hospitals, care homes, GP practices and dental surgeries, as well as ambulance and mental health services – have endured years without a significant pay rise, says the union. Since the start of 2010, the value of their wages has fallen by almost 20%. A 5% pay claim was submitted last June. Since then, inflation has risen to 5.4%, the highest level in nearly 30 years and the cost-of-living crisis has spiralled out of control, says UNISON. Despite this, the CQC has announced a pay freeze for all but the very lowest paid. But UNISON says CQC employees play a key role in ensuring the health and care sectors are safe so need to be recognised and given a decent pay rise read more
Support Sandwell Leisure Trust strike – UNISON members at Sandwell Leisure Trust are taking further strike action on Friday 28 January. Picket lines will be on the afternoon shift from 12-30pm-2pm at Portway Lifestyle Centre(Newbury Ln, Oldbury B69 1HE) and Tipton Leisure Centre(Alexandra Rd, Tipton DY4 8TA) read more
Carmarthenshire Winter Gritters action suspended (21 Jan) – Winter Gritter’s action suspended as council concede to workers demands. Three nights of industrial action and nine picket lines later Plaid led Carmarthenshire County Council were forced to ask for talks and during those talks held earlier this week conceded to the main demands of UNISON, GMB, and Unite members. The harsh reality for the council was that they could not maintain a winter gritting service let alone a safe one without our members. The council has now agreed to pay Winter Gritters £25 per shift (an increase of £8.00) if they are retained for winter gritting on a weekday read more
NIPSA
Minister’s Announcement – Health Pay (20 Jan) – NIPSA has given a guarded response to Minister of Health Robin Swann’s announcement today of an extra £25 million to go with the 3% pay award – stressing that the additional money, while welcome, falls well short of what hard-pressed Health and Social Care staff deserve read more
NIPSA Supports the Call to Save Regina Coeli House (19 Jan) – NIPSA has written to the Minister for Communities in support of the campaign to save Regina Coeli House from closure. A copy of the letter is attached to this article. CLICK HERE to sign the petition read more
NIPSA Members employed as Education Welfare Officers announce 15 days of Strike Action – NIPSA, the largest union from the non-teaching workforce in Education, announces that members employed as Education Welfare Officers will embark on 15 days of strike action commencing on 29 November. This is part of their campaign for pay parity with Health and Social Care Trust colleagues read more
CWU
Working hard in delivery to put revisions right (31 Jan) – CWU News caught up with Outdoor Secretary Mark Baulch in Aberdeen last week, as he visited yet another unit where our members, and our customers, have been let down by poor planning and support read more
CWU tenacity on Enterprise contractual howler delivers cash windfall for 72 (Jan 31) – Scores of Enterprise members in SME (Small & Medium Enterprise) Sales have received thousands of pounds in ‘ex-gratia’ payments from BT following the union’s successful challenging of a decade old blunder involving the miscalculation of contractual on target bonus (OTB) payments. Under a settlement brokered by the union to right a historic wrong which has seen the 35% OTB stipulated in contracts of employment underpaid since 2010, more than 50 who joined the SME Desk in 2011 or earlier have just received compensatory payments of £10,000 each read more
Big ‘Yes’ to Santander pay deal (25 Jan) – Members across Santander have overwhelmingly accepted a one- year pay offer which delivers an across the board increase of £1,000 (pro-rata for part-timers) for all apart from the lowest performing employees read more
Post Office strike moves closer as bosses refuse to end pay freeze (24 Jan) – Dramatic day at the CWU industrial executive, as delegates unanimously approve a strike ballot. “It’s outrageous that Post Office senior directors can find millions to waste on defending themselves in court action over Horizon but refuse to even offer any pay rise at all to hard-working staff,” stormed CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey this afternoon. Speaking to CWU News just after the union’s postal executive committee meeting concluded, Andy revealed that the meeting had formally endorsed a plan to move towards a national industrial action ballot of all members read more
Royal Mail: Unofficial walkouts precede bigger battle to come on pay and workload – (from a CWU member) A number of Royal Mail delivery offices have taken unofficial industrial action since the New Year, all of which are linked to major national issues taking place within Royal Mail since the ‘Pathway to Change’ national agreement read more
BFAWU
BFAWU launches Sexual Harassment survey (31 Jan) – Last week members of the BFAWU were invited to fill in a survey asked them about their experience of sexual harassment in their workplaces, work and union events, and within the union itself. Reponses have started to flow in and it is clear there is an issue in the food industry, where it seems there is a culture of sexual harassment and even violence being brushed off as banter, swept under the carpet and ignored, or the survivor being blamed read more
FBU
Red Plaque for firefighter to be unveiled on 30th anniversary (25 Jan) – A new Red Plaque is to be unveiled to commemorate a firefighter who died trying to save a young woman and child. Malcolm Kirton was aged 38 when he died fighting a fire at a large furniture and carpet store in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 2 February 1992 read more
NAPO
Recent HMI Probation reports and member’s anger (26 Jan) – Two recent reports by HMI Probation have now been published. The first is in relation to the inspection carried out within the Swansea Neath Port Talbot Probation Delivery Unit (PDU) which has received an overall rating of ‘Inadequate’ by the Inspectorate. We understand that this the first inspection under the new methodology being used by HMIP read more
NEU
BREAKING NEWS!! Joint Statement from Newham Sixth Form College and the NEU
Newham Sixth Form College and the NEU are pleased to announce that they have reached a resolution of their dispute.
As part of that resolution, Newham Sixth Form College is happy to confirm that:
- The College’s preference is to remain as an independent, stand-alone, sixth form
College and;
- The College will maintain an inclusive course offer and its commitment to the local community and;
- The College has not made any decision to academise.
Both the College and the NEU look forward to working constructively together through the newly agreed Joint Negotiating and Consultative Committee (31st of January 2022)
GDST vote yes for strike action (26 Jan) – Teachers vote to strike over pensions in GDST’s 23 independent schools. A formal strike ballot of National Education Union teacher members working in the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST)’s independent schools has shown overwhelming opposition to the employer’s plan to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS). 95% of NEU teacher members voted in favour of strike action, on a turnout of 84%. This was a single ballot covering all 23 independent schools in the Trust. Potential dates for discontinuous strike action are still to be decided. These would constitute the first days of strike action in the Trust’s entire 149-year history. Under the proposal to leave the TPS, teachers will be at least 20% worse off on average in terms of the annual amount they receive in pension payments read more
Support the following action:-
| Action | Date | Contact |
| Gordano School / North Somerset (Unacceptable workload) | 3 February | [email protected]
|
EIS
Scotland’s Teachers in Overwhelming (98%) Rejection of Pay Offer (31 Jan) – Scotland’s teachers have overwhelming rejected the latest pay offer from Scotland’s local authorities and the Scottish Government, in a ballot organised by the EIS. The ballot, which closed this morning, resulted in rejection of the offer by 98% of the teachers who voted. The result of the ballot sends a strong message to COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and the Scottish Government that they must return to the bargaining table with an improved offer. Commenting on the ballot result, EIS Salaries Convener Des Morris said, “Scotland’s teachers have sent a very strong and very clear message with this ballot result. This overwhelming rejection of the current offer by EIS members is a warning to COSLA and the Scottish Government that they cannot take the goodwill of teachers for granted. The EIS Salaries Committee will consider the ballot result and the next steps to be taken at its meeting later this week. We will fully expect to receive an enhanced offer from COSLA and the Scottish Government at our next negotiating meeting, currently scheduled for next week.” EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan added, “Scotland’s teachers deserve a fair pay rise from their employers and the Scottish Government. With this ballot result, our members have shown, very clearly, that they consider the current offer neither fair nor acceptable…” read more
EIS Opens Industrial Action Ballot for Members in Higher Education – The EIS has opened a statutory industrial action ballot for its members in the Higher Education Sector. Members of the EIS University Lecturers’ Association (EIS-ULA) are being asked to support a programme of industrial action, up to and including strike action, in a long-running dispute over pay. The dispute follows protracted negotiations at New JNCHES, the UK-wide negotiating body for pay in the Higher Education sector. Following the breakdown of negotiations, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) broke the principle of negotiating pay and imposed an offer that, for most EIS members (academic staff), amounts to a 1.5%. pay uplift. The imposition of a sub-inflation pay offer, a real-terms pay cut, is not a new action on the part of UCEA, as they previously followed a similar course of action in 2019 read more
UCU
Over a million students at 68 universities to be impacted by up to 10 days of campus walkouts starting in February (27 Jan) – University staff are set to walk out for up to 10 days of strike action in two disputes over pensions and pay & working conditions. The union has labelled the strikes a ‘fight for the future of higher education’ with staff at ‘breaking point’ after a decade of cuts to pensions, falling pay and worsening working conditions. Over 50,000 university staff are expected to walkout with over one million students set to be impacted. In pensions, proposals from employers mean staff face a 35% cut to their guaranteed retirement income. The pay and working conditions dispute is over a 20% real term pay cut over the past 12 years, unmanageable workloads, pay inequality and the use of exploitative and insecure contracts, which are rife across the sector. In total 68 UK universities will be hit with strike action in February. The full strike dates, with numbers of institutions involved, are:
- week 1 (USS pension dispute only, 44 institutions): 5 days; Monday 14 to Friday 18 February
- week 2 (both the pension and the pay & working conditions dispute, 68 institutions): 2 days; Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 February
- week 3 (pay & working conditions dispute only, 63 institutions): 3 days; Monday 28 February, Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 March
Further industrial action is also on the cards, including:
- rolling regional and UK wide action in pay & working conditions: dates to be confirmed
- preparations made for UK wide marking and assessment boycott. The final day of strike action in week 3 has been called to coincide with the student strike on Wednesday 2 March, organised by the NUS. The NUS is calling for higher and further education to be free at the point of use for students and for staff to get better working conditions, pay and pensions read more
UCU submits new pension proposals to avert UK wide strike action (26 Jan) – UCU has issued a set of new USS pension proposals aimed at averting widespread industrial action across UK campuses in February and beyond. In a letter to the chair of the USS Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), the body which decides how the USS pension scheme is managed, UCU general secretary Jo Grady calls for the new proposals put forward by UCU to be formally tabled and put to a vote of employer and staff representatives when the committee sits next month. UCU is due to announce the dates of strike action over cuts to USS pensions drawn up by university employers, represented by Universities UK (UUK). 44 out of 68 USS pension branches have a mandate for action, and UK campuses last saw strike action in December over pension cuts. The new proposals, which the union says offer a “way out” of disruptive industrial action in February, would see retirement benefits protected in return for a small increase in contributions for both members and employers ahead of a new “evidence-based valuation” of the scheme read more
Joint letter to DfE on climate strategy in the curriculum (25 Jan) – The NEU, NASUWT, NAHT, UCU, UNISON, GMB, and the NUS, alongside SOS-UK, The Edge and ThoughtBox, have today written to secretary of state for education, Nadhim Zahawi to share joint concerns that the curriculum needs to address and reflect the importance of sustainability and the effects of climate change read more
Increase in student admissions & qualifications means university bosses need to invest in staff (25 Jan) – UCU said that university bosses must invest in their staff by raising pay, improving working conditions and protecting pensions to avoid further strike action. The union was responding to HESA student data for the 2020/21 academic year, which shows big increases in student intake and qualifications read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
NUJ
Chris Mullin to contest order under Terrorism Act (31 Jan) – Chris Mullin, the journalist, former MP and government minister, is to contest an order served on him by police using the Terrorism Act to seek source material relating to the Birmingham pub bombings read more
BBC Turkey strike ends with major concessions (31 Jan) – The two-week action led to a 32 per cent pay rise. Journalists at BBC Turkey’s Istanbul bureau have ended the strike they started on 14 January, braving the snow and cold, to highlight how their pay had been robbed by rampant inflation. At the end of the action, the members won:
- An annual pay raise of 32 per cent.
- Private health insurance for their families.
- Daily 60 TL lunch vouchers in gross.
- 1,200 TL support for eyeglasses/contact lenses.
The strikers said their success was only a beginning read more
Prospect
Success for union and communities as remote towers project shelved (27 Jan) – Prospect’s Air Traffic Control Officers working at Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) are celebrating success today in their campaign to preserve high value jobs in remote communities read more
Members at Natural England to start industrial action in the new year over poverty pay – Prospect members at Natural England have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over poverty levels of pay. In the ballot, 76% voted in favour of a strike, with 84.7% voting in favour of action short of strike. Action short of a strike will commence on 4 January 2022 and if no further progress is made, then strike action will be taken. Our members at Natural England will maintain their right to take industrial action until the legal mandate ends on 21 May 2022 read more
Equity
Sign the petition to save Stratford Circus! https://www.change.org/p/save-stratford-circus
USDAW
Tesco restructure could put around 1,600 jobs at risk and is devastating news for those affected says Usdaw (1 Feb) – Retail trade union Usdaw will now enter into consultation talks with Tesco after the company announced a restructure of their night shift operations. This follows the closure of just over half their in-store counter services and the Jack’s store format announced yesterday, which combined could put around 1,600 jobs at risk across the business read more
National Insurance increase is bad for workers and bad for business, it should be scrapped says Usdaw (28 Jan) – Retail trade union Usdaw is urging the Government to scrap its 1.25p in the pound National Insurance increase, amounting to a 10% uplift, which is set to be imposed on workers and employers in April read more
Victimised Tesco warehouse rep Max McGee fighting for reinstatement read more. There is now a GoFundMe to support the campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist) and Max can be invited to speak at Usdaw branches and trades councils ([email protected])
Community
Pay rise secured at Outokumpu! (31 Jan) – More positive news from Community as we have managed to secure pay rises for staff at Outokumpu in Sheffield. Outokumpu has been producing stainless steel for more than a century. On Stevenson Road in Sheffield, Outokumpu’s Rod and Bar mill produces a broad range of stainless steel grades, sizes, and shapes read more
UVW
Outsourced security guards at Great Ormond Street Hospital gear up to take strike action (26 Jan) – “We are planning to go on a six-week strike in February and we call on all of you to join hands with us. People need dignified jobs, dignified pay, dignified conditions at work. Please come and join us so that we can make this fight against outsourcing a success” – Samuel Awittor, GOSH security guard and UVW member. Security guards at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), and members of UVW, will walk out for six weeks in their ongoing fight for equality with other National Health Service (NHS) workers on 2 February 2022. The predominantly Black, brown and migrant guards work for a third party company, Carlisle Support Services (Carlisle), on poorer terms & conditions than their largely white NHS colleagues who are employed in-house. Carlisle is owned by billionaire and Conservative Party donor Lord Ashcroft and the company generated revenues of £65m and profit of £6m in 2019. The planned six-week strike is set to be one of the longest security guard walkouts in NHS history. But the guards say they have had no option after months’ long failed attempts to talk to Carlisle and GOSH read more Strike fund
UVW GOSH strike rally – 12pm February 3rd Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH Facebook event
Cleaners sue Great Ormond Street Hospital for racial discrimination over pay inequality (26 Jan) – “GOSH has been robbing us for a long time and finding excuses not to treat us fairly. They are meant to look after us, but they left us in the hands of private companies who bullied us and denied us our right to NHS pay and other benefits. GOSH knew about it and did nothing. So, we need to take them to court to get justice. And justice we will get” – Memuna Kabia, cleaner for GOSH and United Voices of the World member
IWGB
Longest Gig-Economy Strike Escalates as Sheffield Couriers Blockade McDonald’s (31 Jan) – Yesterday, striking food delivery couriers, employed by the JustEat subcontractor Stuart Delivery, demonstrated outside of the Sheffield Archer Road McDonald’s. 60 drivers and supporters, joined by Paul Blomfield MP, blockaded the entrance to the McDonald’s, shutting down all orders for 45 minutes. Speeches were given by drivers and local business owners who came out to support the action. Couriers began strike action on 6 December 2021, after Stuart Delivery cut the minimum delivery pay by 24%, from £4.50 to £3.40, following a gradual decline in pay and conditions. Couriers have been declining orders from McDonald’s between 5-8PM every evening for 40 days, and have recently started targeting Greggs and other restaurants. Strike action has also taken place in Sunderland, Chesterfield, Blackpool, and Huddersfield read more
Write to Stuart Delivery, JustEat: END THE STRIKE, PAY RISE NOW!
Dalston delivery drivers protest Hackney Mayor over lack of safe waiting areas (19 Jan) – Dalston couriers working for app-based firms Deliveroo, UberEats, and JustEat are protesting tomorrow 20 January from 4.15pm outside Hackney Town Hall after being forced to wait for orders in all weather at Bentley Road car park, a current COVID testing centre with no shelter or toilets. Riders will assemble on Ashwin Street at 4pm and then ride to Hackney Town Hall for the rally read more
BREAKING NEWS!! POLICE IMMIGRATION RAID TARGETS PROTESTING HACKNEY COURIERS – On Thurs 20 Jan, food delivery couriers protested at Hackney Town Hall. Two days later Hackney Police carried out an immigration raid and arrested 8 couriers. We need your help to defend our right to protest. Follow @IWGB_CLB on twitter
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU calls for meeting with ILCU management over pension scheme concerns (28 Jan) – SIPTU representatives have called for an urgent meeting with the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) concerning media reports of a €78 million deficit in its Defined Benefit Pension (ROI) scheme read more
SIPTU calls for a halt to sell-off of community based employment services (24 Jan) – SIPTU members have expressed concern and anger at news reports that the US headquartered corporate contract company, Maximus, has established an operation in Ireland with the expressed interest in taking over Local Employment Services currently provided successfully by community based enterprises read more
SIPTU members call for urgent recommencement of Security ERO process (21 Jan) – SIPTU members have called for the urgent recommencement of the process to establish an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the security industry, a sector in which most workers have not received a pay rise in nearly three years read more
Other news
Townsend Theatre Productions – Upper Clyde Shipbuilders a new play: Yes! Yes! U.C.S.! Townsend Theatre Productions in association with Manchester University present the story of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS) using their trademark integration of live rock and folk inspired music, sound and visual effects to enhance the powerful theatrical story-telling, to intensify the emotional engagement and audience enthusiasm for meaningful and important messages of hope, social justice and improvements in quality of life. Yes! Yes! U.C.S! is a celebration of the community solidarity, collective resistance and the vital support that made the ‘Work In’ such a massive success read more
Doctors in Unite have produced this model resolution for local union branches to discuss airborne spread and how important it is to put protections in place. They’ve also produced a leaflet with info about this and a checklist for reps in the workplace; Unite’s health section has had some input too. They’d be happy to meet with interested local branches or regions to discuss the issues and the practicalities of the measures. Here’s a link for the materials on their website: https://doctorsinunite.com/health-safety/
Save St Mary’s Leisure Centre: – petition to Southampton City Council
St Mary’s Leisure Centre in Southampton is used every week by hundreds of individuals, sports and leisure groups. It is facing council funding cuts and closure at a time when we need these vital facilities. There are no other local facilities available for community use. The centre is in need of maintenance but is safe and viable for current use. We call for Southampton Council to maintain the funding of the centre, to continue as a council run community facility in line with council’s statement of priorities. No council cuts, no to privatisation. Save St Mary’s Leisure Centre – follow campaign on Facebook
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
BREAKING NEWS!! Tracey Scholes is back in the driving seat
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]
Support GARY CARNEY, TRAIN OPERATOR – 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]
Trade union rep victimisation at Woolwich Ferry reaches ‘obscene levels’, says Unite
Unite: Ealing’s Labour council ‘actively helping’ Serco ‘hound’ union rep from civil enforcement job
St Mungos management escalate dispute by suspending Unite rep – sign petition: End the culture of fear at St Mungo’s – model motion
St Mungo’s: Unite will not tolerate victimisation and bullying
Sign petition: Reinstate Gary Bolister sacked GMB rep at Islington Council
Sacked UCU member wins right to return to work (29 July)
Watch Reel News video: Victimised union reps: Act like it’s you and fight back
Reinstate John Boken Shropshire NEU rep – For more details and send solidarity messages, email [email protected]
Sign petition to support Redbridge NEU Rep Keiran Mahon
Watch Reel News video: Huddersfield teachers strike to defend Louise Lewis
Victimised Tesco warehouse rep Max McGee fighting for reinstatement read more. There is now a GoFundMe to support the campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist) and Max can be invited to speak at Usdaw and other union branches plus trades councils ([email protected])
Blacklisting Investigation – Unite the Union has commissioned an independent investigation into alleged involvement of any past of present union officers or officials in the operation of blacklists in the construction industry. The independent investigation will be conducted by Jane McNeill QC in accordance with the attached Terms of Reference. Evidence for the investigation is now being compiled by Thompsons Solicitors LLP. Any documentary evidence which any individual wishes to provide should be submitted to Thompsons either by email to [email protected] or by post to Unite Blacklisting Inquiry, Thompsons Solicitors LLP, Congress House, 23-28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LW, reference L213003/RH. All evidence to be considered for the purpose of the independent report must be received by Thompsons by 9 November 2021 read more
#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement
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
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
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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 the Queens Speech in December 2019 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 finish but has now been extended because of the 2nd lockdown. But it’s clear that the Tories are looking to end it asap.
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
Diary
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
