Unite: Coventry bin lorry drivers to march on Council House as Unite reveals zero attendance from councillors in 25 hours of negotiations (18 Feb) – When: 12 noon, Tuesday, 22 February, 2022; Where: The Council House, Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RR. Coventry bin lorry drivers will march on the city’s Council House after Unite revealed that not one Coventry councillor has been in attendance during more than 25 hours of negotiations. The negotiations, which hinge on the pay grade applied to the refuse HGV driver role, are crucial to bringing the strike to an end. Despite their importance, not a single councillor has attended the meetings – held with council civil servants – even when all-out strike action was imminent. Last week, Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary – who has led the union to 49 victories in the first four months of being in office – vowed that the union’s full support would be given to the Coventry workforce read more
Coventry bin strikes: Unite reaffirms members over politics position (Feb 15) 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]
TUC demonstration – Britain Needs A Pay Rise: March and rally in Blackpool
Start: Saturday, March 19, 2022 • 11:00 AM
Blackpool• Bank Hey Street, Blackpool , FY1 4BJ GB read more
NSSN news
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]
Union News
RMT
Rail cleaners to strike this week (21 Feb) – Cleaners to take their fight to Parliament. Hundreds of heroic rail cleaners employed by Churchill on four contracts in the South East will take strike action on Wednesday 23rd February as part of their fight for pay justice. As the cost of living crisis escalates, the cleaners, who have put their lives on the line during the Covid-19 crisis to keep trains across London and the South East running, will walk out for a 24 hour strike that will affect trains and stations on Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern, Southeastern, Eurostar and HS1 services. The cleaners will be holding a rally outside Parliament at 11am on Wednesday 23rd February where they will be joined by MPs and other supporters read more
Trans Pennine conductors absolutely solid (20 Feb) – Second weekend of action in fight for pay justice. RAIL UNION RMT said today that support from conductor members for a second phase of strike action in a fight for pay justice is absolutely rock solid at all locations along the Trans Pennine Express routes today read more
RMT TPE Conductor members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 13th February 2022
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 20th February 2022
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 27th February 2022
- 00.01 hours until 23.59 hours on Sunday 6th March 2022
Additionally, TransPennine Express Conductor members are instructed not to work any rostered overtime and withdraw from the electronic scanning of tickets from 00.01 hours on Monday 14th February 2022 until further notice read more
RMT says strike action goes ahead this weekend on Rail and Tube (18 Feb) – RAIL AND TUBE UNION RMT said today that strike action will go ahead this weekend as planned in disputes on both rail and tube involving members on TPE and London Underground drivers. On TransPennine Express conductor members will be out for 24 hours on Sunday in the second phase of a fight for pay justice. Driver members will be striking on the Night Tube again from this evening to protect work/life balance and stop the wholly unnecessary imposition of night shift working. Planned action by Train Manager and Senior Conductor members on Cross Country on Saturday in a long running battle to defend jobs and safety has been suspended by the union this morning after a legal challenge by the company utilising the full force of the anti union laws read more
Tube bosses’ ‘divide and rule’ tactics unacceptable (18 Feb) – Dear Colleagues, Defend jobs, pensions and agreements on LONDON Underground: strike action on Tuesday 1st and Thursday 3rd March – Your RMT Lead Officer and Senior Reps from each function met Senior LUL management at ACAS today regarding this dispute which affects all RMT LUL members and is supported by a magnificent yes vote for industrial action. LUL called this meeting despite RMT writing to the Mayor of London on 13th January demanding talks at his level to discuss the planned attacks on our members. LUL asked for clarification on the reasons for strikes planned for 1st and 3rd March and said they wanted to listen to what was required to get the strikes cancelled in the spirit of working together to resolve the issues. Your Union clearly explained that we did not want to take this industrial action. However, we are appalled that after nearly 2 years of working closely with LUL to deliver an essential service to the capital city, including changing a number of our agreements and working arrangements to do this, our members are now facing attacks on an unprecedented scale. These attacks are mainly as a result of the financial incompetence at the very highest level of TfL including the Mayor’s Office. Due to this incompetence, members are now facing an immediate attack on their final salary pension scheme demanding savings of £100m per year and other savings planned of around £500m per year mainly through other attacks on jobs and our agreements and working conditions read more
The action will be taking place as follows:
- All LUL members are instructed to refuse to book on for any duty that commences between 00:01 on Tuesday 1st March 2022 and 23:59 on Tuesday 1st March 2022.
- All LUL members are instructed to refuse to book on for any duty that commences between 00:01 on Thursday 3rd March 2022 and 23:59 on Thursday 3rd March 2022 read more
Heroic West Coast train cleaners announce two 48 hour strikes in fight for pay justice – RAIL UNION RMT announced today that heroic train cleaners working to keep Avanti West Coast trains clean and safe for passengers will be taking further strike action 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. The outsourced cleaners 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. Atalian Servest have refused to make an offer that would raise pay above the Real Living Wage rate of £9.90, with their latest offer amounting to an insulting additional 6p per hour for most staff (especially those outside London). The union has called the following two 48 hour strikes, members are instructed NOT to book on for any shifts between:
- 19:30 hours on Thursday 24th February 2022 to 19:29 hours on Saturday 26th February 2022
- 19:30 hours on Thursday 10th March 2022 to 19:29 hours on Saturday 12th March 2022 read more
TSSA
Pause ScotRail ticket office closures while you consult on women’s safety – Cortes (21 Feb) – Keep ticket offices open until Women’s Safety consultation finished Cortes tells Gilruth. TSSA today (Monday) wrote to Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth urging her to halt plans to close ScotRail ticket offices until the conclusion of her consultation on women’s safety on the railways. The consultation, announced by Gilruth in early February, is due to look at all aspects of women’s safety on the railway. TSSA argue that station staff make stations and platforms safer for women passengers and that planned closures should be paused until the consultation can establish their likely impact read more
TSSA urges government to ‘stop playing politics’ with TfL (21 Feb) – London Underground tube train at a platform with a red footbridge above. TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has urged the government to ‘get a grip’ and ‘stop playing politics’ with Transport for London’ (TfL) after the announcement of yet another short-term funding deal which runs only until this Friday (25 February). The move is the latest in a series of short-term funding extensions after discussions between the Department for Transport and TfL read more
Cortes praises transport worker members in face of storms Dudley and Eunice (18 Feb) – Manuel Cortes praised transport workers keeping the railways running despite Storms Dudley and Eunice. TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes today praised the transport workers who have helped keep Britain and Ireland moving this week despite storms Dudley and Eunice read more
TSSA slams government for hitting London with fares rise (15 Feb) – TSSA has hit out at Boris Johnson and his Conservative government for forcing a regressive fares rise on London’s public transport network, claiming it will “will choke our air, our roads and leave our climate commitments in tatters” read more
Unite
Pay cut disguised as rise at Nottingham’s Riverside Bakery prompts strike ballot (21 Feb) – A pay cut disguised as a rise offered to staff earning just above the minimum wage at Nottingham’s Riverside Bakery has resulted in a strike ballot, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday 21 February). More than 150 workers at Riverside Bakery are being balloted for strike action over a pay offer that would leave staff worse off by reducing overtime and premium rates. Riverside Bakery produces quiches, flans and savoury tarts for major retailers including Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Marks and Spencer. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This offer is a pay cut disguised as a rise. It would leave our members, who are already struggling with low pay and soaring inflation, worse off. I doubt customers will be impressed to learn that the quiches they buy in Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer and other supermarkets are being made by workers on the breadline. “Riverside Bakery should be aware that if our members vote for strike action, Unite will have their backs with all the support they need.” The ballot for strike action opens tomorrow (Tuesday 22 February) and closes on 8 March read more
Fawley workers ballot as oil giant Exxon risks fuel supplies with ‘insulting’ pay proposal (21 Feb) – Fuel supplies to airports and filling stations could be hit this spring should workers at the giant Fawley refinery on the UK’s south coast take strike action over an `insulting’ pay offer, Unite the union has said. A ballot of 100 workers, around one third of all contractors on the site, gets underway today (Monday, 21 February) with strike action poised to begin in April. With some of the workers providing safety critical services, strike action could lead to shut downs across the plant. Unite members employed by three contractors on the Fawley site – Trant Engineering Limited, Veolia Services and Altrad Services – are stunned by the 2.5 per cent pay offer for the next two years when the real cost of living is running at 7.8 per cent and expected to climb higher. Unite is pressing for a one year deal that is in line with inflation read more
Unite hails Labour Court determination that former Ivy workers were dismissed for trade union activities (20 Feb) – Court findings `devastating indictment’ of restaurant group. Trade union Unite, which represents workers in the hospitality sector, today (Sunday) welcomed the determination by the Irish Labour Court that former Ivy workers Julia Marciniak and Lenka Laiermanova were dismissed by the restaurant on foot of their trade union activities read more
Industrial action ballot on cards as rail engineering giant Wabtec plans to ‘fire and rehire’ 130 workers (17 Feb) – An industrial action ballot is on the cards after bosses at Wabtec in Birkenhead unveiled plans to ‘fire and rehire’ 130 workers on inferior pay and conditions. Unite the union said today (Thursday 17 February). The company has issued notice outlining its plans which will see ‘fire and rehire’ dismissals in June. Unite said that the company is proposing to reduce rest breaks, and also remove elements of washing time, that the workers have had in place for years read more
Teesport facing huge disruption as tug boat crews announce strikes in pay dispute (17 Feb) – Tug boats crews employed by Svitzer Marine at Teesport, the UK’s fifth largest container port, will begin strike action early next month in a dispute over pay. The company has attempted to impose a pay freeze on the workforce. In response, the workers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have voted for strike action, recording a 100 per cent yes vote in favour of walkouts. The first strike will last 48 hours and begins on Tuesday 1 March. Two further 24 hour strikes on 9 and 26 March read more
Rugby pay strikes begin at GE Steam Power’s historic factory (16 Feb) – Workers at GE Steam Power’s historic factory in Rugby will begin pay strikes on Thursday (17 February), Unite, the UK’s leading union, has said. More than 75 Unite members, comprising nearly the entirety of the factory’s workforce, will take 12 days of strike action between 17 February and 2 May. The dispute is over GE Steam Power’s refusal to negotiate over flexible working payments and the expectation that workers will take on new roles without extra pay read more
Weymouth bus drivers win historic pay deal (16 Feb) – Bus drivers at the First Wessex depot in Weymouth, Dorset have won a significant pay victory which will see an extra 8.2 per cent in pay packets by November 2022. Unite the union said that about 120 workers would receive an 8.2 per cent uplift for the 2022 pay year, with a first rise of 4.4 per cent in April and a further 3.8 per cent coming in November read more
As inflation soars, Unite leader reiterates demands for pay increases to combat brutal ‘cost of living’ crisis (16 Feb) – As inflation soars, Unite leader reiterates demands for pay increases to combat brutal ‘cost of living’ crisis. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “Soaring inflation is not the fault of workers. This is yet another crisis not of their making so why should workers be made to pay for it?…” read more
Unite warns check test backlog may leave driving instructors and learners in limbo (16 Feb) – Union calls for permits to be extended while backlog is cleared. Unite, which represents Approved Driving Instructors throughout Ireland, has called on the Road Safety Authority to extend instructors’ permits while the RSA works through the backlog of check tests. Instructors must pass check tests in order to remain registered. Due to Covid-19, many instructors have only weeks left on their permits while the waiting period for check tests is approximately three months read more
Airbus workers at Broughton vote to strike over pay (15 Feb) – Airbus workers at Broughton in North Wales have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay. Around 3,000 Airbus employees, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, voted to strike after the company refused to improve on an ‘unacceptably low’ pay offer for 2021. This is despite the fact that workers shouldered a pay freeze in 2020 read more
Airbus workers in Wales and Gloucestershire vote to strike over pay (15 Feb) – Airbus workers at the company’s factories in Broughton, North Wales, and Filton, Gloucestershire have voted for strike action in a dispute over pay. Around 3,000 Airbus employees, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, voted overwhelmingly to strike after the company refused to improve on an ‘unacceptably low’ pay offer for 2021. This is despite the fact that workers shouldered a pay freeze in 2020. Strikes at the Broughton and Filton sites, which design, test and manufacture wings for Airbus’ commercial aircraft, could begin as early as March read more
Unite members at Liverpool Mooring Services secure pay and sickness boost (15 Feb) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a pay increase and a major improvement to their conditions for workers employed by Liverpool Mooring Services (part of the Briggs Marine group). The workers will receive a three per cent pay increase backdated to 1 January 2021 and then a further three per cent increase from 1 January 2022 read more
Support the Scunthorpe Scaffolders: 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
Support the striking Serco outsourced workers at Barts NHS Trust – A rally will be held for the outsourced NHS workers outside Royal London Hospital. The workers are fighting against low pay and exploitation. 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 and are calling more action from Monday 28 February to Sunday 13 March read more
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]
Support striking Manchester Chep workers – the workers, members of Unite the union, have been on strike since December – and recently renewed their mandate for strike action into the spring by a majority of 94 per cent – over the management’s failure to improve on their offer of two per cent, when the RPI rate of inflation is running at 7.5 per cent. Chep UK, which is based in Trafford Park, Manchester, repairs and supplies pallets for supporting and transporting goods to a host of prominent companies including InBev, Heinz, Heineken, A&B Containers, Encric and TDS. Unite is dedicated to advancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and will fight back against any efforts to diminish workers’ living standards read more
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
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
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, Met Police, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, HMRC
Join PCS to vote in national ballot (21 Feb) – Join by 4 March to have your say on pay, pensions and the cost-of-living crisis. Our national consultative ballot of our public sector members runs from 14 February to 21 March to ask what action they would be prepared to take in support in our campaign to raise pay, pensions and living standards. It’s not too late to join and have your say read more
Parliamentary staff angry at potential Asbestos exposure (18 Feb) – PCS say the health and safety risks posed to members were unacceptable and avoidable. The incident took place last autumn during fire safety work being carried out in Speaker’s House, the residence of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. People affected are currently being notified by House of Commons authorities and the Health and Safety executive is due to investigate the circumstances of the exposure read more
High Court verdict finds Harding and Coupe appointments unlawful (17 Feb) – The court found that the government breached the public sector equality duty with the appointments of Baroness Dido Harding and former Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe. The verdict on 15 February follows a judicial review brought by the Good Law Project and the Runnymede Trust into the selection of Harding as chair of the National Institute for Health Protection (which became the UK Health Security Agency) and Coupe’s hiring as NHS Test and Trace director of testing. PCS represents members who work for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) read more
Shared services: privatisation and job losses threatened (16 Feb) – Plans have emerged to privatise the work currently done by civil servants and to close the site in Swansea. Last year the UK civil service announced yet another shared service strategy. This follows on the heels of a number of failed attempts to get shared services right. Despite tens of millions of pounds spent on shared services, the privatisations, job losses and disruption to the work of departments, the fact is that shared services are fragmented and give a disjointed service. This of course is not the fault of the shared service workers but of Ministers and senior managers read more
Atos members to take industrial action on 28 February – The members working for Atos IT Services will take a day’s strike action followed by an overtime ban. PCS members working for Atos IT Services on the National Savings & Investment, PiP, BBC and Tax Free Child Care contracts are to start industrial action on 28 February. Atos have not made an improved offer since our members overwhelmingly rejected the 1.5% pay offer. Our claim is for 5% or £1300 underpin plus a £600 one off payment in recognition of the contribution our members made throughout the pandemic. The industrial action is twofold with a strike on 28 February followed by action short of a strike, which will include an overtime ban across all the accounts. If we do not receive a significantly improved offer we will be continuing the action short of a strike and also moving to all out selective strike action read more
Fujitsu members vote for strike action over pay – PCS members in Fujitsu have voted strongly in favour of industrial action. PCS members who work for Fujitsu Services have voted by 77.1% to take strike action and by 90.7% to take action short of a strike on a turnout of 80.4%. Members are furious at being offered 1.5% after a pay freeze last year and due to the current cost of living crisis spiralling out of control. This is in effect a 0.75% pay offer per year and goes no way near to meeting our very reasonable and justified pay claim of a consolidated 4% increase or a £1500 underpin whichever is greater. PCS has written to Fujitsu to inform them of the result and ask them if they want to reopen the pay negotiations. We have made it clear that only a significantly increased offer will prevent the union moving to industrial action read more
GMB
Ending covid restrictions ‘premature and attempt to buy popularity’ (21 Feb) – GMB Union has responded to plans to scrap all remaining covid legal restrictions in England. Dan Shears, GMB National Health and Safety Director, said: “The Prime Minister’s announcement is premature and nothing more than a desperate attempt to buy popularity with the public. Removing covid restrictions doesn’t mean the virus has gone away. Thousands of workers will continue to be infected each day and many have yet to be fully vaccinated…” read more
Adur and Worthing Bin strike to go ahead after unanimous vote (18 Feb) – A bin strike in Adur and Worthing looks set to go ahead after a GMB members voted unanimously for industrial action. Around 60 refuse, streets and recycling operatives and drivers will walk out after their demands for an uplift in all grades, increased rates for overtime and shift patterns, plus a review of operating and management practices were ignored by management.
The ballot saw 100 per cent of votes cast in favour of strike action on a turnout of 90 per cent. Strike dates will be announced in the coming days read more
Almost 135,000 retail jobs lost during pandemic (17 Feb) – Almost 135,000 traditional retail jobs were lost during the pandemic, GMB analysis of official figures suggests. In 2019, there were an estimated 1.2 million sales and retail assistants, retail cashiers and check-out operators. By 2021 that number had dropped to just under 1,075,000, the latest ONS figures show. The stats emerge amid Wilkos closures across the UK with two – Stockton and The Fort, Birmingham – due to shut next week read more
Barrow bin strike confirmed as refuse collectors vote for industrial action (16 Feb) – A Barrow bin strike has been confirmed after GMB members voted for industrial action. More than three quarters of the refuse collectors working for FCC Environment voted unanimously to walk out. The strikes will take place on six days from 9 – 11 March and then 16 – 18 affecting more than 33,000 households read more
Hospital protest suspended following offer of sick pay at St Georges (18 Feb) – A GMB Union demonstration today [Friday 18 February] outside St Georges Hospital in Tooting has been called suspended after bosses backed down. The protest – organised by workers employed as cleaners and hostesses by Mitie – was in anger at a number of issues with their pay. The company has now offered a sick pay scheme to members, so GMB reps have agreed to suspend their action for a month in order that the rollout of this can be explored read more
Up to 15,000 Leeds care workers set for pay boost (17 Feb) – Up to 15,000 Leeds care workers could be in line for a pay boost after a GMB campaign. Leeds City Council has announced it will boost the minimum pay of home care workers – including those who work for external providers commissioned by the council – to the Real Living Wage of £9.90 an hour from 1 April. The council signed up to GMB’s Ethical Care Charter in 2021, which calls on local authorities and other public bodies involved in the delivery of home care to accept and commit to a series of principles, aims and objectives to improve conditions in the sector read more
Workers protest in Dickens country over Hard Times for council staff (17 Feb) – GMB, the biggest school support staff union in Medway, have slammed the council for their derisory offer to compensate workers on term-time only contracts for years of miscalculated annual leave. The union has been pursuing compensation claims for their members, predominantly lower paid women, and the latest offer from the council falls well below the rate offered by neighbouring councils for the same thing. Members are being balloted on whether to accept this offer, which although it remains open appears to be strongly in favour of rejecting. The ballot closes on Friday 4 March. The union are organising a demonstration outside the full Council meeting with all councillors responsible, for this offer, attending. The details are as follows:- Thursday 24 February 2022, 6pm -7.30pm;
St George’s Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent. ME4 4UH read more
Workers win at Ministry of Defence Forge (15 Feb) – Workers at a forge are celebrating a massive pay win after bosses backed down at the 11th hour. GMB members at Somers Forge, in Halesowen, were set to go on strike today [15 February 2022]. It was to be the latest in a series of walkouts after the company offered a 4 per cent pay rise but refused to backdate it to the pay anniversary of April 2021. Late last night bosses backed down and agreed to the workers’ demand. Somers Forge manufactures components for the defence industry and is a supplier to the MOD read more
More than 30,000 carers left without union access in ‘fresh attack on rights’ (15 Feb) – GMB union says a move by a care giant to leave tens of thousands of care workers without access to a recognised union is a ‘fresh attack on carers’ rights’. Barchester Healthcare, which employs more than 30,000 employees, has begun the process of derecognising GMB in their facilities across the UK. This week, GMB members are protesting at dozens of care homes against the move read more
1,300 Heathrow workers win living wage pay boost after GMB campaign (15 Feb) – A fresh group of sub-contracted workers at Heathrow Airport will get a pay rise to at least £11.05 per hour, GMB announces today Tuesday 15th February. The move affects workers who work for Mitie and Apcoa within the direct supply chain at Heathrow. People directly employed by Heathrow have been paid at least the London Living Wage since 2017 – but for the 90,000 employed by contractors, there has been a huge variation in pay says GMB London. GMB will continue to fight for every worker to get the Real Living Wage read more
Wiltshire bin strike to go ahead affecting 250,000 homes (14 Feb) – A bin strike will go ahead across Wiltshire after GMB members voted for industrial action. Refuse operatives, loaders and drivers will walk out on February 28 in a move that will affect more than 250,000 homes. GMB’s 70 members across three sites – employed by Hills Waste Solutions in Trowbridge, Salisbury and Calne – are furious after management imposed a two per cent pay award – amounting to a massive real-terms pay cut – and failed to negotiate meaningfully with GMB. The ballot saw more than 98 per cent of workers voting to strike, on a return of almost 85 per cent read more
Croydon Hospital workers form Strike Committee over Covid sick pay – Cleaners and porters working at Croydon Hospital have formed a strike committee over the lack of covid sick pay. The workers, employed by outsourcing giant G4S, have told their union GMB they want to be balloted for industrial action. GMB members say they are being silenced and intimidated by their employer who is stopping overtime when they raise genuine concerns. A consultative industrial action ballot is currently underway and will finish on 21st February. Dozens of cleaners and porters protested outside the hospital on 31st January in anger at not receiving full sick pay during covid-related absences read more
Solihull bin strike looms as ballot begins today – A bin strike in Solihull could affect more than 86,000 homes as GMB began balloting members today over a pay dispute. More than 100 refuse collectors working for Amey Services Limited will take part in the ballot, which begins today [7 February 2022] and ends on March 4. Amey are refusing to negotiate collectively with GMB Union on workers’ pay. If the strike goes ahead, refuse and recycling services for Solihull Metropolitan Council – including Bickenhill waste tip and recycling centre, local cemeteries, street cleansing, parks and more than 86,000 households will be affected read more
Unison
Pay and pensions issues prompt higher education strike (21 Feb) – Decent wage offer needed and pensions preserved. Staff are striking at 11 universities and higher education institutions from today (Monday) over a range of issues including pay and pensions, UNISON says. Action will take place on several days over the next fortnight at Birkbeck, SOAS, City, King’s College London, Goldsmiths (all University of London), Trinity Laban, Brighton University, Edinburgh Napier University, Gloucestershire University, Leeds University and Queen Margaret University read more
Government must row back from reckless ditching of Covid rules, say education unions (21 Feb) – Scrapping all safety requirements in schools could cause further Covid surge. Chaos will reign in schools and millions of hours of learning will be lost unless the government rows back from the reckless decision to scrap all remaining Covid safety rules in England, three education unions are warning today (Monday). UNISON, Unite and GMB, which represent school support staff, are urging the Prime Minister to think again and keep in place free testing and the requirement to self-isolate, as an absolute minimum read more
Pensions hike could be ‘a step too far’ for many NHS staff, says UNISON (16 Feb) – Sara Gorton says majority of full-time employees will be worse off under government plans. Commenting on government changes to NHS pensions in England and Wales, which will mean many health workers paying more towards their retirement, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said read more
Further industrial action at Sandwell Leisure Trust (9 Feb) – UNISON members set to take to the picket lines for a sixth time in continued fight against their employer’s fire and rehire tactics. Workers at Portway Lifestyle Centre and Tipton Leisure Centre in the West Midlands will take strike action on Thursday 24 February. This follows last month’s strike on 28 January, which received widespread support read more
NIPSA
NIPSA Response to DoF Public Consultation on ‘NICS Pension Scheme – Prospective Remedy’ (18 Feb) – NICS Pensions NIPSA Submission Department of Finance Public Consultation. NIPSA has responded to the DoF Public Consultation on Northern Ireland Civil Service Pension Scheme: Prospective Remedy. The NIPSA submission is attached to this article and the consultation papers can be found here read more
Education Welfare Officers (EWO) Dispute (17 Feb) – Industrial Action Education education welfare officers. Education Welfare Officers are escalating their strike action next week. This will involve 2 days of strike on 24th and 25th February. There will be 6 pickets each day. I attach to this bulletin a poster showing the locations, all pickets will be there from 08:45am. NIPSA tabled proposals to resolve this dispute with the Education Authority on 9th February. We met with the employer to discuss them, and they are now considering their response. A further meeting will take place on 28th February read more
RCN
NHS pension contribution changes: RCN demands clear explanation of impact on members (16 Feb) – The Department of Health and Social Care has announced the outcome of its consultation on changes to the NHS Pension Scheme in England and Wales read more
Results of RCN Northern Ireland ballot on HSC pay award (14 Feb) – Members working for the HSC in Northern Ireland have had their say to inform our next steps on pay. RCN members in Northern Ireland have voted in our consultative ballot on the 3% pay award for HSC staff on Agenda for Change terms and conditions. The ballot closed on Thursday 10 February. Of those eligible to take part in the consultation, 51.75% turned out to vote with 92.2% of those who voted saying they think the pay award is unacceptable, and 7.8% saying they think it is acceptable. Your elected representatives on the RCN Northern Ireland Board will now carefully consider the results and decide on next steps. Members will be the first to know when further decisions are made read more
CWU
Horizon – keep the pressure on Post Office to win justice for all victims (21 Feb) – Our nation’s biggest-ever miscarriage of justice became one of the biggest headline news stories over this past week, as Sir Wyn Williams’s Inquiry began taking evidence form some of the scandal’s victims read more
Post Office pay dispute – ‘This is the fight – let’s have it!’ (17 Feb) – Strike ballot campaign kicks off with lively national reps briefing in Birmingham. “Chins up and chests out – this is the fight, let’s have it,” was the message from CWU deputy general secretary postal Terry Pullinger to the union’s Post Office Counters, Admin and Supply Chain reps, who gathered yesterday to plan the first steps of their strike campaign against the company’s pay freeze. Meeting on the same day that a further rise in the cost of living was reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), delegates voiced growing determination to fight for a fair deal – many citing anger and fury from their hard-working members read more
Royal Mail CDC pensions – another big step forward (17 Feb) – “Now we should be able to deliver this new scheme, the final fourth pillar of security, in the latter part of this year” says CWU deputy general secretary postal Terry Pullinger in an important message to branches and members. With a statutory, business-wide formal consultation process having now completed, the introduction of the ground-breaking collective defined contribution (CDC) pension plan now only requires some final, minor legislative work before a formal application can be made to the Pensions Regulator to open the scheme read more
FBU
“A real opportunity”: FBU urges public involvement in fireworks consultation (16 Feb) – The Fire Brigades Union has welcomed the call from the Members of Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee for groups and individuals to submit their views on the proposed Scottish Government Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Bill read more
NEU
Covid Restrictions Eased (21 Feb) – Once again an announcement has been made by the Prime Minister without any guidance for schools in place read more
Strike details for Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST)’s independent schools in England and Wales from 10 February – Countdown to strike action at GDST’s 23 independent schools. In one week from now, teacher members of the National Education Union in Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST)’s independent schools in England and Wales will go on strike to defend their pensions. Six days of strike action have been announced – 10 February 2022, 23 February, 24 February, 1 March, 2 March, 3 March. There is a strike rally in Parliament in London at noon on 10 February. Further details of that and other rallies to follow read more
Wales: Strike action at Howells School over pensions – from 10 February, teacher members of the NEU at Howells School will go on strike to defend their pensions. Four days of nationally co-ordinated strike action have been announced across the Girls’ Day School Trust’s independent school in the Wales – 10 February 2022, 1 March, 2 March, 3 March. A single formal ballot, which closed last week, resulted in 95% of teacher members at the 23 schools voting in favour of discontinuous strike action on a turnout of 84%. (1) This is an unprecedented and overwhelming ‘yes’ vote for action, and the strike action will be the first in the Trust’s entire 149-year history. Howells School will not take part in the strike days planned for 23 February and 24 February due to it being half term read more
NEU teacher’s pay consultation outcome (16 Feb) – Message from the NEU Northern Ireland Regional Secretary. The teachers’ pay consultation last week provided an opportunity for teacher members to indicate their opinion within two questions read more
Support these strikes:-
Abbot’s Hill School / Herts (TPS)
22 February-24 February
Girls Day School Trust Schools (TPS)
23 February-24 February
Kester Brewin c/o Emily Scurrah
Forest School / Waltham Forest (TPS)
23 February
NASUWT
Teachers reject pay offer (18 Feb) – Teachers in Northern Ireland have rejected the latest pay offer by the employers and Department of Education, a survey by NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has confirmed today. Of those surveyed, 88% rejected the latest pay offer for 2021/22 and 2022/23. The anger felt by the profession could not be more stark with the vast majority of members saying they were prepared to take industrial action over the offer, with 94% prepared to take action short of strike action and 70% prepared to take strike action read more
Norwich teachers strike over pensions – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Norwich High School for Girls, are starting the first of six days of planned strike action tomorrow (10 February) in protest at plans to downgrade their pensions, which would leave them significantly worse off in retirement. The Girls Day School Trust (GDST), which runs the school, is planning to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and impose an inferior scheme on its teachers. Staff have been threatened with dismissal from their jobs if they refuse to sign up to new contracts which include the downgraded pension entitlement. The NASUWT does not believe there is any financial justification for GDST to seek these cuts to teachers’ pension entitlements. GDST has enough funds to offer teachers fair pensions. The Trust’s finances are in a healthy condition with total funds of £461.9 million and available reserves of £43.1 million as of August 2020 read more
UCU
Strength of pension scheme means rationale for attack on benefits has ‘evaporated’ (21 Feb) – Responding to news that university vice chancellors have rejected UCU’s compromise proposals even though the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) deficit has shrunk by around 80%, the union said that there is no justification for pension cuts. UCU staff at 68 universities are currently on strike for up to 10 days in two disputes. Staff at 44 universities are on strike over pension cuts read more
Strike action escalates with staff at 24 more universities joining UK-wide walkout (21 Feb) – Strike action at UK universities spread to 68 institutions today as staff blamed bosses for failing to make improved offers on pensions and pay & working conditions. More than 50,000 staff have a mandate to strike and well over a million students are being impacted. Staff at 24 additional universities downed tools today over pay and working conditions. Their demands include a £2.5k pay rise for all university employees. UCU now estimates staff pay has fallen by more than a quarter (25.5%) in real terms since 2009. University employer representative, UCEA has refused to budge on its offer of a paltry 1.5% increase on existing salaries for 2021/22. Staff from the 24 institutions hit with strike action today join those at 44 universities who walked out last week over a 35% cut to their guaranteed pension income. In total 68 universities are being hit with strike action lasting up to 10 days. The full strike dates, with numbers of institutions involved, are:-
- Last week (USS pension dispute only, 44 institutions): 5 days; Monday 14 to Friday 18 February
- This week (both the pension and the pay & working conditions dispute, 68 institutions): 2 days; Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 February
- Next week (pay & working conditions dispute only, 63 institutions): 3 days; Monday 28 February, Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 March read more
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
Big changes needed at Imperial College London, say staff (15 Feb) – Staff at Imperial College London sent a clear message that President Alice Gast and Muir Sanderson must go and that the college needs to implement a new governance structure read more
Huge numbers of staff & students on picket lines across the UK (14 Feb) – University staff on the ground have reported huge numbers of staff and supportive students joining picket lines. Commenting on today’s strike action, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Thousands of university staff began a new wave of industrial action as they try to prevent a devastating 35% cut to their guaranteed retirement income. The response from students has been overwhelming and I want to thank every single one of them for standing with us…” read more
Strikes begin today at Goldsmiths in jobs row – Industrial action by University and College Union (UCU) members will begin today (Monday 7 Feb) at Goldmiths University as part of an ongoing dispute over plans to sack 46 members of staff. Goldsmiths wants to make the cuts as part of a ‘recovery plan’ after years of financial mismanagement have left the university with a £12.7m deficit. The union says the ‘recovery plan’ is a deal struck with Lloyds and Natwest banks to use redundancies to improve the university’s finances. Following a failure by the university last week to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies staff have been left with no option but to take industrial action in defence of jobs. Staff will walk out today (Monday 7 February) and tomorrow, and follow this up with strike action alongside that taking place as part of UCU’s national pay and pension disputes later this month. The full dates that Goldsmiths staff will be on strike over this dispute are – Week 1 Mon 7 & 8 Feb; Week 2 Wed 16 – Fri 18 Feb; Week 3 Mon 28 Feb – Fri 4 March
The university has already been hit with a global boycott which means UCU is asking its members, other trade unions, labour movement organisations and the international academic community to support its members at Goldsmiths in any way possible read more Follow @GoldsmithsUCU on twitter
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 (21 Feb) – 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
Privacy ruling will prevent journalists from “putting the conduct of companies and individuals under scrutiny” (17 Feb) – The Supreme Court has ruled people have the right not be identified by the media until criminal charges are brought. The NUJ has voiced its “considerable disquiet” over a Supreme Court ruling on a privacy case which will make it more difficult for the media to publish information about people in criminal investigations read more
Prospect
Local Air Traffic Control jobs retained as Prospect members endorse HIAL proposals (21 Feb) – Prospect members at Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) have voted to accept revised plans that retain jobs locally at on-site air traffic control (ATC) towers read more
Equity
Equity responds to Government ending Covid restrictions (21 Feb) – The Government has today (21 February) announced plans to lift Covid-19 restrictions from 24 February. Equity is concerned about the impact of this on the entertainment industry and its workers, especially our clinically vulnerable members, and have issued the statements below in response to the announcement. See a list of the changes announced today on pages 22-23 of the Government document Living with Covid-19 read more
Universal Credit campaign update – four-week rule (17 Feb) – Last week the Government rushed through Parliament a major change to Universal Credit that could unfairly affect our members and creative practitioners. Under the changed rules, new claimants now have just four weeks to look for their usual line of work instead of three months. After this period, claimants will be forced to look for work outside of their preferred occupation or sector and those who do not comply could find their benefit suspended for periods of up to 26 weeks. Please read our updated advice page for more information. This is the latest move by the government that risks pushing many Equity members into financial hardship and reforming Universal Credit (UC) remains a priority for the union following our last campaigning update (October 2020). Note that this new rule won’t apply to you if you are found to be ‘gainfully self-employed’ but that would mean in due course that you are subject to the ‘minimum income floor’ which was are also lobbying to change read more
Sign the petition to save Stratford Circus! https://www.change.org/p/save-stratford-circus
USDAW
Ending free tests and self-isolation rules, along with no masks is a triple whammy for Covid safety in stores says Usdaw (16 Feb) – Retail trade union Usdaw is urging the Government not to end, next week, free test kits and the requirement to self-isolate. The union believes caution is still needed while infection rates and deaths are still high and is also calling for a new deal on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) 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 boost secured for GXO workers! (17 Feb) – As Heart Unions Week continues, we are delighted to announce more positive news for our members. We are very pleased to report that we have secured an above-inflation annual pay rise of 8.8% for workers at GXO Doncaster and GXO Barnsley who are the logistic providers to ASOS. Community members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of this pay deal, which has also been backdated to January instead of beginning at its traditional time of April read more
UVW
UVW GOSH strike protest: Friday 25th February – 12.00pm
📍Meeting point: North end of Queen Square, London WC1N 3AU
There are some restrictions within 50 metres of the hospital which we will clarify to anyone joining us. 🚫
See this map of where we’re meeting and the rough area where the restrictions apply.
UVW stewards will be on hand to answer any questions.
Let’s make sure the wealthy GOSH trustees see us and hear us! 🎺 We won’t give up the fight for equality! ✊🏾
Support the six-week GOSH security guards strike, every Friday
Academics write open letter on the injunction against striking security guards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (15 Feb) – Over 180 academics have written an open letter expressing their solidarity with the striking Great Ormond Street Hospital security guards and calling for the the injunction taken by the hospital to be overturned. As academics and others interested in work, employment relations and public policy, we are deeply concerned about the temporary High Court injunction (10 February) against the United Voices of the World (UVW) union to ban striking outsourced security guards at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and their supporters from “waving banners”, vigorous dancing” or even “making rapid dramatic movements” within 200 metres of the hospital. This unprecedented ruling is a serious assault on all unions and the right to strike, particularly worrisome if the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill becomes law read more
GOSH security guards call on the union movement to support their right to picket, threatened by injunction (14 Feb) – “We call on all working class people, all unionists to join hands together, because we see an attempt to suffocate the voices of working people, to suppress the movement of the unions,” Sam Awittor, GOSH security guard on strike. The High Court on Thursday 10 February served United Voices of the World (UVW) union with a temporary injunction banning its Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) striking security guards and their supporters from dancing, singing and even waving banners within 200 metres from the hospital. This is an unprecedented legal ruling to silence workers and one of the biggest legal attacks against the human rights of the trade union movement in decades, and the guards and their union are determined to resist it vigorously. On Wednesday 16 February, they’ll be back in court for a full hearing where they will fight for the injunction to be ripped up. In the meantime, the guards have redoubled their efforts to gain visibility and rally support read more
Colombian cleaner unfairly sacked wins £38,000 in compensation (15 Feb) – “They insisted that I was lying about my accident at work and treated me as if I was a criminal. I had worked without fail for more than eight years, never late or sick, and I felt unfairly judged, mistreated and humiliated. But I did not let them intimidate me and with the support and help of my UVW union I took them to court. Thank God we won the case. I am so happy. I feel that justice has been done. I invite all cleaners to join UVW and fight for their rights, for a decent wage and decent treatment. I also hope that my victory will encourage others not to fear retaliation and dismissal because in the end justice will prevail.” Read more
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children threatens to seek injunction to silence security guards on strike for sick pay (9 Feb) – The trade union United Voices of the World (UVW) has been informed by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) that it will apply to court for an injunction unless UVW undertakes to cease all picketing at the hospital and limit the number of any ‘protestors’ to six. UVW does not accept that GOSH has any right to the undertakings sought which are oppressive and a draconian and unjustified encroachment on our member’s human rights to picket and protest. UVW will vigorously contest any application to the Court. This threat follows five days of a planned 44-day strike by security guards in pursuit of full sick pay and other NHS benefits they are currently denied. On one of these days the peaceful picket line was violently attacked outside the offices of GOSH CEO, Matthew Shaw. A crime report was lodged with the police read more
IWGB
IWGB launches campaign for driver safety on anniversary of Gabriel Bringye’s murder (17 Feb) – Today the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) launches ‘Gabriel’s Campaign for Driver Safety’ named after Gabriel Bringye, a private hire driver who was murdered while working for Bolt. The anniversary of Gabriel’s death will also be marked by a vigil and rally taking place today at 6pm on Jarrow Road, organised by Gabriel’s family and the IWGB union read more. Sign the petition to call on Bolt CEO Markus Villig to improve safety protections for private hire drivers, and also to be kept updated about the campaign and how you can get involved
Migrant cleaners at London Bridge Hospital whistleblow on Covid safety violations (14 Feb) – Migrant cleaners at London Bridge Hospital whistleblow on Covid safety violations and launch campaign against HCA Healthcare which pocketed NHS millions in the pandemic read more
Longest Gig-Economy Strike Escalates as Sheffield Couriers Blockade McDonald’s – Yesterday 30th January, 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!
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU members in FAI raise concerns regarding strategy and working practices (18 Feb) – SIPTU members employed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have written to senior management to express their concerns regarding strategy and work practices at the sporting organisation read more
Mandate (Ireland)
Retail Union says customers should continue to wear masks (17 Feb) – Mandate Trade Union is calling for the retention of mask wearing in retail settings in order to protect workers from the dangers of Covid-19. Mandate represents 25,000 workers in the retail sector and they’re urging NPHET and government to recognise the contribution made by retail workers over the last two years and do everything they can to prevent workers from contracting the virus read more
Other news
SOSNHS NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION SATURDAY 26th Feb – This will be the hardest winter ever in health and social care. We must act to safeguard services for patients and service users, boost staff morale and tackle the mental health crisis among health and care staff. Emergency funds must be secured now to avert disaster see here for details of events in your area February Health Campaigns Together bulletin
March against racism for UN Anti-Racism Day – Saturday 19 March 2022
BBC Portland place, London, 12noon
Kelvingrove park, Glasgow, 11am read more on Stand Up To Racism website
Waltham Forest Trades Council Public Meeting: Support the Strikes – Tuesday March 1st at 7pm – William Morris Community Centre
Fight blacklisting and 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]
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
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
International news
From NUJ website: Somalia: concern over increasing threats to journalists and media freedom (15 Feb) read more
Cambodia: Release jailed union leaders and drop all charges unconditionally read more
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
