The NSSN stands in solidarity with the RMT and the 50,000 of its members who have taken strike action today nationally and on London Underground, where they were joined by 1,000 Unite members. The national strike will continue this Thursday and Saturday.
NSSN supporters have been visiting picket lines today to give our support, and we marched with up to 100,000 trade unionists on the TUC demonstration last Saturday. The combative mood of those attending the TUC demo, the support given by working-class people, including train users to the biggest rail strike in decades and the ballots for action announced by the CWU and others to follow, all point to an increased determination on behalf of workers and their unions to fight back against vicious attacks on living standards, working conditions and our right to strike.
Come and join us at the annual NSSN conference on Saturday 2nd July in London to discuss organising to strike together!
Railworkers strike back – support the strikes
The NSSN sends support to the RMT and their members and other transport unions who are taking action this week. And as the crisis-ridden Tories have raised bringing in even more new anti-union laws, specifically aimed at transport workers, the whole trade union movement will need to act in solidarity with the RMT and the other transport unions if Johnson’s government intervenes. The NSSN supports the call of the RMT for the re-nationalisation of the railways.
BREAKING NEWS!!
RMT strike action to go ahead on Thursday (22 June) – RMT strike action to go ahead on Thursday after talks breakdown without agreement. “Until the government unshackle Network Rail and the train operating companies, it is not going to be possible for a negotiated settlement to be agreed. We will continue with our industrial campaign until we get a negotiated settlement that delivers job security and a pay rise for our members that deals with the escalating cost of living crisis.” Commenting on today’s talks, Mick Lynch RMT general secretary said: “Grant Shapps has wrecked these negotiations by not allowing Network Rail to withdraw their letter threatening redundancy for 2,900 of our members
RMT General Secretary on rail dispute (21 June) – Commenting on today’s first rail strike since 1989, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Today’s turnout at picket lines has been fantastic and exceeded expectations in our struggle for job security, defending conditions and a decent pay rise. “Our members will continue the campaign and have shown outstanding unity in pursuit of a settlement to this dispute. RMT members are leading the way for all workers in this country who are sick and tired of having their pay and conditions slashed by a mixture of big business profits and government policy. Now is the time to stand up and fight for every single railway worker in this dispute that we will win”
National Rail & London Underground Strikes (20 June) –
Discussions with Network Rail and the Train Operators have continued today. The Train Operators have now made an offer and there is no further offer from Network Rail following the one which was rejected last Friday. The RMT National Executive Committee has now found both sets of proposals to be unacceptable and it is now confirmed that the strike action scheduled this week will go ahead. It is clear that the Tory Government after slashing £4bn of funding from National Rail and Transport for London, has now actively prevented a settlement to this dispute.
The rail companies have now proposed pay rates that are massively under the relevant rates of inflation, coming on top of the pay freezes of the past few years. At the behest of the Government, companies are also seeking to implement thousands of job cuts and have failed to give any guarantee against Compulsory Redundancies.
- As a result of this transport austerity, the employing companies have taken decisions to:
- Attack the Railway Pension Scheme and the TFL scheme, diluting benefits, making staff work longer and making them poorer in retirement, while paying increased contributions.
- Cut thousands of jobs across the rail network while not giving a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.
- Cutting safety inspections on the infrastructure by 50% in order to facilitate mass redundancies.
- Attack terms, conditions and working practices in a form of internal fire and re-hire, including lowering existing salaries and increasing the working week.
- Re-starting the disputes on the role and responsibility of the guard and massive cuts to catering services.
- Closing every ticket office in Britain regardless of the accessibility needs of the diversity of passengers
- Cutting real pay for most of our members through lengthy pay freezes and well below RPI inflation pay proposals.
Faced with such an aggressive agenda of cuts to jobs, conditions, pay and pensions, RMT has no choice but to defend our members industrially to stop this race to the bottom. The strikes on Network Rail, the Train Operators and London Underground will go ahead, and we again call on our members to stand firm, support the action, mount the pickets and demonstrate their willingness to fight for workplace justice.
The RMT supports the campaign for a square deal for all working people in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, and our current campaign is a part of that more general campaign which means that public services have to be properly funded and all workers properly paid with good conditions.
RMT remains available for discussions that will settle this dispute and ensure our transport system can operate without disruption.
Mick Lynch – RMT general secretary
RMT calls for face to face meeting with Shapps (15 June) – Rail union RMT has called for a face-to-face meeting with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak to avert strike action on the rail network next week read more
Video: Jared Wood explains all-grades Tube strike taking place on 21 June – RMT National Executive Committee representative for London Transport, Jared Wood, gives a rundown of where we are with the dispute over Jobs, Pensions & Conditions watch video here
Unite members at TfL and London Underground to strike over pensions, pay and jobs (8 June) – Strikes will hit the capital’s transport network this month as Unite members at Transport for London (TfL) and London Underground (LU) take action to defend pay, pensions and jobs. On Tuesday 21 June, over 1,000 Unite members will walk out in protest at plans to slash the value of their pensions and close the existing final salary scheme read more
2022 NSSN Conference: ‘Mobilise and organise to all strike together after the 18th June TUC Demo’ – Saturday 2nd July 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event
The NSSN was initiated by the RMT under its late great general secretary Bob Crow in 2006. We continue to build solidarity and support for unions and their members taking action. This will be the 15th national NSSN conference and as usual will be a vital forum for union reps and members along with anti-cuts campaigners to come together to talk about their struggles and discuss out the strategy, tactics and programme needed for the fight of our lives.
March together on June 18th, organise to strike together!
Confirmed speakers include: Sharon Graham Unite General Secretary, Steve Gillan POA General Secretary, Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary, Terry Pullinger CWU Deputy General Secretary Postal, Eddie Dempsey RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary, Annoesjka Valent NAPO National Official, Unite Coventry bin striker and Rob Williams NSSN Chair
Attendance fee £6. Register on the day or email [email protected]
You can download the conference leaflet plus a letter for union branches, trades councils
The NSSN will be again holding our rally at TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday 11th September 1pm-3pm
Coventry NSSN Public Meeting: ‘After the TUC demo & on the first day of the national rail strike – Building the Fightback against the Cost of Living Crisis’ – 7pm Tuesday 21st June, Central Hall, Warwick Lane, Coventry CV1 2HA Facebook event
Speakers:
Rob Williams, chair NSSN (ex Fords Unite Convenor), Pete Randle, deputy convenor Coventry Council HGV drivers, RMT striker
Chair: Jane Nellist, President Coventry TUC
All welcome. Plenty of time for discussion.
Support sacked P&O workers
NSSN supporters have taken part in demonstrations to support the 800 sacked P&O workers and their unions the RMT and Nautilus International and other seafarer unions. We will advertise solidarity protests in this bulletin and we will update it during the week, and on social media when they are announced. We support the calls for P&O to be nationalised to save jobs and defend communities.
BREAKING NEWS!! CWU gives Royal Mail notice of industrial action ballot https://twitter.com/CWUnews/status/1539240367396093952
Stop union victimisation: support the Coventry bin strike
The Labour council has disgracefully targeted Pete Randle, one of the senior Unite shop stewards. We call on all our supporters to support Pete and his striking members
Sign petition to Councillor George Duggins – Coventry Council: Reinstate Pete Randle, stop union busting, stop strike breaking and pay the rate
100 per cent strike vote by HGV drivers sends determined message to Coventry Council (7 June) – In a resounding show of unity and determination, striking HGV drivers in Coventry have voted to renew their strike mandate and continue industrial action into the summer. Putting pressure on Coventry council to settle with the union, 100 per cent of those workers who voted support continuing strike action until an agreement is reached. The HGV drivers have been on all out-strike since 31 January in a dispute over low pay and the council’s refusal to pay the HGV refuse lorry drivers the market rate for the job read more
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]
Solidarity with GMB after Wealden bin strike victory but protest against picket line arrests
Wealden bin strike ends in seventh week with massive pay deal for workers (14 June) – GMB union members have today accepted an improved pay offer to end the refuse strike within Wealden District Council. Their employer Biffa’s latest pay offer will constitute a pay rise of more than 27 per cent for some workers. The total value of the settlement is worth between 24 and 27 per cent, depending on which job they do. Kerbside collections within Wealden will recommence from tomorrow [Wednesday 15 June]. The strike ends after 6 weeks and 2 days of action which garnered many messages of support and solidarity from local residents read more
Solidarity with GMB as arrests made on Wealden bin strike picket – The NSSN like many others in the trade union movement sent solidarity to the GMB after officers and a member were arrested recently. They remained in police custody for hours but were released later that day. This was an outrageous act. The NSSN will continue to support the GMB and its members in Wealden. Donate to GMB Southern region fighting fund. There is a protest to support the three officials who got arrested last week on the Wealden Biffa picket line. Three of them have been charged with obstructing a public highway and ordered to appear at Hastings Magistrates Court 29th June at 9.30am
GMB responding to reports of arrests on Wealden refuse strike picket line this morning (27 May)
Stop the war in Ukraine
The NSSN calls for the unity of working-class people across Ukraine, Russia and the whole region against war, militarisation and repression. We support the actions of independent trade unions in Ukraine and Russia in defending workers.
FBU Executive Council Statement – Invasion and War in Ukraine
Unite executive council – statement on Ukraine crisis
NIPSA statement: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
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
Churchill cleaners began 5 days of strike action (2 June) – Cleaners continue their fight for a £15 per hour. Staff in cleaning roles on GTR, Network Rail, HS1 and South East Trains will be on picket lines throughout the weekend. The union is demanding Churchill pay company sick pay and free travel for cleaning staff across the network, to bring them in line with every other railway worker on the network. Due to the cost-of-living crisis with prices rising at their fastest rate in 30 years and inflation running at 11.1 percent, these workers need a pay rise now. Churchill made £39m profit in 2020 but is flat out refusing to raise cleaners’ wages to a liveable standard. Reports from picket lines suggested no trains were being cleaned and RMT members were in good spirits in their fight for pay justice read more
48 hour TransPennine Express strike action goes ahead (1 June) – TPE conductors on major railway lines will take 48 hours of strike action from Saturday in row over pay and Sunday working. The company continues to refuse TPE conductors’ request to increase pay for staff coming in on their days off and Sundays. However, this week it emerged, that TPE bosses have offered drivers an increase of 15% for working on their days off. RMT has made it clear if the same offer was made to conductors, then this latest strike action would be suspended read more
Atalian Servest cleaners strike (30 May) – Further to our previous correspondence, despite your union’s best efforts to try to resolve this matter, Atalian Servest has continued to fail to negotiate a pay offer which is adequate. At the conclusion of the latest talks, the company advised your union that intend to impose their latest derisory pay offer. Therefore, the strike action this weekend which I previously notified you about remains on. For ease of reference members are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between: 00:01 hours on Saturday 4th June 2022 and 23:59 on Sunday 5th June 2022 read more
Support the London Night Tube strike: every Friday and Saturday nights on Central and Victoria lines read more
ASLEF
Britain’s train drivers’ union announces strike action on Greater Anglia, Hull Trains and tram drivers in south London – ASLEF, the train drivers’ trade union, have announced strike action over pay:-
[i] Drivers at Greater Anglia will strike between 00:01 and 23:59 Thursday 23 June 2022.
[ii] Drivers at Hull Trains will strike between 00:01 and 23:59 on Sunday 26 June.
[iii] And tram drivers in south London will strike for a fair pay deal from 00:01 on Tuesday 28 June until 23:59 on Wednesday 29 June and from 00:01 on Wednesday 13 July until 23:59 on Thursday 14 July read more
Vote ‘Yes’ – we will not stand for years of pay cuts (1 June) – We continually visit branches, testing what we are doing, to avoid accusations of an ivory tower mentality or of being London-centric. Naturally, in a fractionalised industry, with the continual carving up of the franchise map, ‘one size fits all’ policies are difficult to deliver but aspiration cannot – and should not – be tempered but encouraged read more
TSSA
Strike ballots at rail operator – Great Western Railway (GWR) (17 June) – TSSA has served notice to ballot almost five hundred workers at Great Western Railway (GWR) for strike action and action short of strike in a dispute over pay, conditions and job security. The union is demanding a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies for 2022, no unagreed changes to terms and conditions, and a pay increase which reflects the rising cost of living.
Ballots open: 24 June 2022; Ballots close: 12 July 2022. The earliest that industrial action could be taken is 26 July 2022.
These ballot follows hot on the heels of similar announcements in Network Rail, Cross Country, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, and Avanti West Coast, Northern, LNER and C2C in an escalating dispute across the railway read more
Strike ballots at rail operator – Southeastern (17 June)
Strike ballots in rail operators C2C, LNER and Northern (15 June)
TSSA ballots Network Rail members for strike action (14 June)
Strike action ballots for Cross Country, East Midlands Railway and West Midlands Trains (10 June)
TSSA ballots Avanti West Coast members for strike action (9 June)
TSSA calls for urgent government meeting over rail ticket office closures (20 June) – TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has written to Grant Shapps asking for an urgent meeting and calling on the Transport Secretary to ‘come clean’ over reports all rail ticket offices in England face the axe. The Sunday Times reported yesterday that a secret plan has been drawn up to begin the closure programme as soon as September read more
Serco must be stopped from Highland Clearances of staff – Cortes (14 June) – TSSA today lambasted Serco Caledonian Sleeper after the company announced it was moving jobs from Inverness to Glasgow – making Highlands based staff redundant. Serco are moving three Service Delivery Manager posts from Inverness to Glasgow, making staff redundant. TSSA say that efforts to persuade the company to keep staff in post in Inverness have been rebuffed with the company determined to move all the posts to Glasgow. Unlike ScotRail a “No Compulsory Redundancies” policy does not exist in Serco’s contract with the Scottish Government read more
Unite
Government stoking division and siding with bad bosses in agency worker law change (20 June) – Hitting out at the proposals by the government to change the law to allow agency workers to be used to break strikes, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “When P&O broke the law this Government gave them a slap on the wrist. When trade unions defend pay and jobs they change the law and stoke division. “It’s clear this government is on the side of bad bosses. Many agency workers will be alarmed at the prospect of being forced to try and break lawful picket lines. They won’t want to be used as fodder for a political game…” read more
Big city investors can’t wash their hands of Caterpillar’s mistreatment of Northern Ireland workers (20 June) – Unite brings workers’ campaign to London offices of Vanguard, Blackrock and State Street, who hold more than a fifth of Caterpillar’s stock. Caterpillar pay cut and compulsory overtime for Northern Ireland workers makes total mockery of ethical claims. The general secretary of the UK’s leading union has warned big City investors that they cannot ‘wash their hands’ of Caterpillar’s mistreatment of workers in Northern Ireland. The call came after Unite took the first in a series of protests targeting Caterpillar’s investors to Blackrock, Vanguard, and State Street in London, who between them hold more than 20 percent of Caterpillar’s total shares read more
Eight more weeks of strike at Larne and Springvale at ‘hugely profitable’ Caterpillar, as Unite steps up pay fight (14 June) – CEO top line is £19.7 million, shareholders have a £4 billion bonanza but workers offered a brutal pay cut as well as forced labour through compulsory overtime. US construction giant Caterpillar faces two more months of strike action as members of Unite the union continue to fight for a fair pay rise from their super-rich employer. The workers are also facing the threat of forced labour as they are being asked to agree to compulsory overtime read more
Unite wins Leicester Citybus drivers an extra £2,450 this year (17 June) – 13.3 per cent pay deal over two years, but index-linked to inflation. Leicester Citybus drivers are at least £45 a week better off – £2,450 a year – thanks to a pay rise won by their union, Unite said today (Friday). A two-year deal will see wages rise by 13.3 per cent by 2023 for more than 180 Leicester Citybus drivers, with the first rise backdated to April when members started the process of industrial action. On top of this, Unite has secured a promise from the company that it will reopen negotiations if the RPI (Retail Price Index) rate of inflation is at 5.5 per cent or more in 10 months’ time. RPI currently stands at 11.1 per cent read more
Unite makes `crystal clear’ 5% is a pay cut for NHS Scotland workers (16 June) – Industrial action closer as union’s NHS reps recommend rejection of the current pay offer. Unite the union has confirmed that its health sector representatives will be recommending rejection of the Scottish Government’s 5 per cent NHS pay offer following a meeting in Glasgow today (16 June). Unite represents workers in every pay band across the entire NHS structure. The union says that the current pay offer represents a significant real-terms pay cut for health service workers when the broader cost of living has hit a forty-year high of 11.1 per cent. The trade union will now consult its members on rejecting the offer and on a potential industrial action ballot throughout July read more
North West facing bus strikes as Arriva boosts profits not pay (16 June) – Bus workers employed by Arriva across the North West are preparing to ballot for industrial action in a dispute over pay. The dispute is a result of Arriva offering the workers a pitifully low pay increase. This involved a maximum no strings pay increase of three per cent or a six per cent increase which includes reductions in sick pay and loss of Saturday enhanced pay. Both offers are far below the current real inflation rate (RPI) of 11.1 per cent. Over 1,800 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are involved in the dispute. The ballot will open on Monday 20 June and it will close on Monday 4 July read more
Unite warns London-wide strikes on the cards unless bus cuts’ threat removed (16 June) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, which represents 20,000 London bus workers, has warned that the option of industrial action is very much on the table in its campaign to prevent planned cuts to swathes of London’s bus network. Transport for London (TfL) has announced a short six week consultation on its proposals to cut 16 London bus routes, around four per cent of the network. Unite has called for guarantees that jobs will not be lost and take-home pay will not fall, or it will prepare for industrial action. London’s bus drivers fear a loss of the overtime and rest day working which is relied upon to boost earnings. Unite says that the threatened four per cent reduction will see a loss equal to 800 driver roles read more
UK household goods repair giant Whirlpool faces strikes over ‘insulting’ pay offer (16 June) – Staggering 250 per cent profits jump, but pay cut on the table for workers. The repair, installation and maintenance of the UK’s household appliances, including washing machines, will be hit should Whirlpool workers vote to strike over an ‘insulting’ pay offer. Unite the union is balloting its members, employed by the hugely profitable Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited, for industrial action over a 2.5 per cent pay offer – a substantial real terms wage cut at a time when the RPI rate of inflation is at 11 per cent. The ballot started this week and closes on Tuesday 5 July. Unite members, who deliver, install and repair domestic appliances across the UK, are employed by Whirlpool working across three core brands – Hotpoint, Indesit and Whirlpool read more
Unite the union and London’s Dalston Superstore sign recognition agreement (15 June) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has signed a voluntary recognition agreement with London’s Dalston Superstore to represent the venue’s staff. Dalston Superstore caters to London’s diverse LGBTQI+ community offering a nightclub, cabaret venue, café, gallery and community space. The voluntary recognition agreement sets out negotiating structures for issues such as pay, terms and conditions and dispute procedures. Most of Dalston Superstore’s staff are members of Unite, which represents thousands of workers across the country in restaurants, bars and hotels read more
McLaren, Aston Martin and Bentley supply chain hit by strikes over pay ‘cut’ (15 June) – Tipton CabAuto workers earn £9.90ph building interiors for £200k + cars. West Midland workers making interiors for elite autos McLaren, Aston Martin and Bentley, are due to start a period of seven one-day strikes in June and July over a real terms pay cut. More than 100 workers at CabAuto in Tipton earn just £9.90 an hour to make seats and interior trims for luxury cars such as the £700,000 McLaren Senna and the £225,000 Aston Martin Superleggera. The workers will strike over a three per cent pay offer on 28 and 30 June and 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 July. Unite says that the three percent offered to its CabAuto members is a pay cut with real inflation running at 11.1 per cent and rising. Some CabAuto workers are so poorly rewarded that they have been forced to use food banks read more
Strike at Moy Park Randalstown mill continues as employers refuse to pay the rate for the job (15 June) – Randalstown workers paid ‘chicken feed’ wages – some less than £5,000 a year compared to workers at other Moy Park sites. As Moy Park profits touch £90 million Unite exposes how poverty pay at Randalstown leaves workers borrowing to ‘make ends meet’. A Unite survey of striking Moy Park workers has revealed that eight in 10 are suffering a declining standard of living; seven in 10 had trouble making ends meet in the last year; and six in 10 had to borrow money to get by. Drivers at the plant regularly work well in excess of 70 hours a week to make a living as the rates of pay at the site are more than £5,000 a year less than drivers receive at other Moy Park sites for the same work. The latest figures for 2021 show Moy Park has reported profits of £86 million, while its owner Pilgrim’s Pride banked among its highest ever margins at £478 million. So there’s cash a plenty to pay the same rate across the company. Unite reveals the shocking statistics as workers at Randalstown stand on pickets for a second week at the Moy Park owned chicken feed mill read more
Royal Mail depending on ‘1,800 unpaid jobs’ as Unite prepares to strike to save 542 posts (15 June) – Survey reveals stretched workers denied breaks and annual leave. Managers at the Royal Mail, currently being balloted for industrial action over threatened job losses, work ‘nearly 1,800 jobs’ worth of unpaid overtime a year’, Unite the union has said. A Unite survey of 1,000 of its Royal Mail managers undertaken in the spring revealed that they are giving the company 7,767 ‘free’ hours per week which is equivalent to about 1,800 extra jobs, if extrapolated over the working year and the total managerial population of the company read more
Croydon refuse strike off as Unite wins for Veolia workers (14 June) – Strike action involving refuse workers employed by Veolia on the outsourced Croydon council contract has been called off after workers accepted an improved pay offer. Strikes were due to begin this Thursday (16 June) for a three week period. The workers have voted to accept an improved pay offer worth 8.5 per cent and an additional one off bonus of £750, which is worth an additional 3.4 per cent for the lowest paid, a total of 11.9 per cent read more
Overwhelming vote for strikes at Thirteen Housing Group over ‘insulting’ pay offer (13 June) – 83 per cent reject plans to leave them £1,000 a year worse off. Housing group expected to have £47 million in the bank by year end. Workers at major housing association Thirteen Housing Group, which has over 35,000 properties in the North East and Yorkshire, will be striking for over three weeks in a dispute over an ‘insulting’ three per cent pay offer and pension changes that will leave them £1,000 a year worse off. The workers, members of Unite the union, are responsible for property maintenance and admin. They are being offered an extra day’s holiday on their birthday, but are being hit with increased pension contributions. The combined effect of the proposed pay and pensions’ changes will be to leave those in the pension scheme about £1,000 a year worse off. Anger has also been fuelled by Thirteen’s CEO, Ian Wardle’s pay package worth more than £200,000 a year. The housing association has a surplus fund target of £31 million, which is predicted to grow this year to £47 million. Unite the union said hundreds of its members had voted by 83 per cent for strike action…The strike days will be: Saturday 25 June to Tuesday 28 June; Saturday 2 July to Wednesday 6 July; Saturday 9 July to Thursday 14 July; and Saturday 16 July to Friday 22 July. All strike days will run from 00.01 to 23.59 read more
Unite Gatwick workers win 21% pay increase (13 June) – Over 300 workers at Gatwick airport will benefit from a 21 per cent pay increase thanks to Unite, the UK’s leading aviation union. The workers are employed by Wilson James on the mobility contract at Gatwick. They are responsible for assisting passengers with mobility issues through the airport, including helping them on and off planes. The pay deal has been backdated to 1 April and Unite has secured agreement for Wilson James to pay for free parking at the airport for all its workers on the contract. In addition, Unite has secured a 10 per cent pay increase for 200 workers employed by British Airways Gatwick Ground Handlers (GGS). The workforce is responsible for the ground handling operations for all British Airways and Vueling aircraft using the airport read more
Unite wins £1,000 cost of living pay bonus for staff at Lloyds Banking Group (13 June) – Unite, the union representing staff at Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) has today (Monday 13 June) confirmed that staff across the bank will be awarded a £1,000 bonus to help them to deal with the cost of living crisis. Following a campaign by members of Unite the bank has conceded that many low paid employees are struggling with the rising costs of food, fuel and heating. In March Unite members voted to reject the LBG 2022 pay offer and have since been campaigning for significant changes to the pay system at the bank. This campaign included a demonstration at the organisations AGM in May read more
Big name brands Diageo, Chivas, Bacardi, Carlsberg among those facing bottle shortages this summer as workers at Owens Illinois (O-I) Glass take strike action in pay dispute (9 June) – Over 160 workers, members of Unite the union, are set to walk out in rejection of a pay offer of just four per cent, which the union says is a pay cut given the real inflation rate (RPI) currently stands 11.1 per cent. O-I Glass’s quarterly results released in March this year shows significant growth in both revenue and net income. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “O-I Glass is another shameful example of a business that can afford to pay a decent wage but won’t pay. The offer on the table is a pay cut, not a rise, and is entirely unacceptable. O-I Glass needs to return with an acceptable offer or face strike action by our members, who will have the full support of their union in this fight for fair pay.” Strike action will be across three sites: the Devilla Forest Quarry and the Glasshouse Loan which are both in Alloa, Scotland, and the company’s plant in Edinburgh Way, Harlow. Strikes will begin with a 24 hour strike at the Devilla Forest Quarry, on Wednesday 15 June, this will be followed by a 48 hour strike at the Glasshouse in Alloa, beginning on Thursday 16 June. The workers at the Harlow plant will then stage a 48 hour walkout beginning on Sunday 19 June. Further strike action is set to be announced in the near future. Hopes of progress in the dispute collapsed this week when the company simply restated their previous pay offer during negotiations read more
Staff at FCA prepare for second wave of strike action as FoI requests exposes a “deep crisis” (9 June) – Freedom of Information (FoI) requests lodged by Unite has revealed that 1,000 employees have left the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) since CEO, Nikhil Rathi took office in October 2020, prompting the union to warn of a deep crisis at the regulator. The news comes as Unite members prepare to stage a second wave of strike action in London and Edinburgh for two days beginning on Thursday (9 June).Unite says the FCA is in crisis and is haemorrhaging staff. It can no longer claim to be an effective or reliable regulator read more
Strikes over poverty pay at Red Funnel set to shut down Southampton to Cowes ferries (8 June) – Strike action could shut down all Southampton to Cowes ferry services, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday). In a dispute over poverty pay, around 120 customer service staff, shunters and ratings, who work on Red Funnel’s Southampton to Cowes passenger ferry and car ferry, will be balloted for strike action between 14 June and 5 July. The workers have rejected a pay offer of 4.5 per cent, rising to 6.5 per cent for the lowest paid staff. They are calling for an increase that reflects the real, fast-rising cost of living which Unite says runs at 11.1 per cent. The majority of the employees at Red Funnel, which operates the lucrative routes, are on the national minimum wage. Unite says the workers are increasingly struggling to pay increased rents. Some are turning to food banks and ‘making the most’ of food allowances at work to keep bills down read more
Doncaster rail maintenance workers to strike over ‘abhorrent’ fire and rehire by US multi-national (8 June) – Unions declare ‘shame on you’ to Wabtec’s breaking of proud history. Members of Unite and the RMT unions employed by rail maintenance firm Wabtec in Doncaster will strike over ‘abhorrent’ fire and rehire plans. Over 200 workers will take strike action on 10, 11, 12 and 13 June. A second round of strike action will begin on 27 June and end on 3 July, with more strikes set to be announced. The unions say that the US-owned firm is bringing shame to Doncaster, home of the Flying Scotsman, which was built on the site Wabtec operates from. Wabtec is seeking to fire and rehire the workers onto new contracts that will see breaks cut and staff having to work extra hours, including at the end of their shift, for no extra pay. The company is offering workers that sign the contracts a two-year below inflation pay rise. With inflation (RPI) running at 11.1 percent, this is a real terms pay cut over two years. The unions are advising staff who have been pressurised by management during one-to-one meetings into signing the new contracts that they can still take action to fight the changes read more
Main port on Shetland Isles could be forced to close after negotiations with Port Authority break down (8 June) – Unite warns strikes could bring Lerwick harbour to a standstill. Unite the union confirmed today (8 June) that its members working at the Lerwick Port Authority are set to start all-out strike action in a dispute over pay, terms and conditions. Around a dozen key workers will begin continuous strike action from 00:01 hours on Monday 20 June at the main port in the Shetland Islands. The all-out strike marks an escalation from the current overtime bans, and will bring operations at the port to a ‘standstill’ impacting cruise liners and oil and gas vessels, as well as the general shipping read more
Pay strikes at UK’s only ink manufacturer to hit Daily Mail, Amcor, Scheizwer and Multi-Colour Corp – Pay strikes at the UK’s only ink manufacturer, Sun Chemical, will impact the printing of the Daily Mail as well as production for Amcor, Scheizwer and Multi-Colour Corp. Nearly 200 Sun Chemical employees, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will take strike action at sites across the country over an ‘insulting’ three per cent pay offer. An overtime ban will commence on 6 June followed by a 24-hour strike on 9 June at seven sites, with more strikes set to be announced. The sites are in Bristol, Midsomer Norton in Somerset, Workington in Cumbria, Alfreton in Derbyshire and Heywood, Milnrow and Urmston in Greater Manchester. Sun Chemicals is part of the global DIC corporation. According to the DIC 2021 report, the corporation made £2.5 billion in profits, with its Europe and Africa division, of which Sun Chemicals is the largest company, netting profits of £60 million read more
Yorkshire bus passengers face severe disruption as Arriva workers announce extensive strike action over `pitiful’ pay – Bus passengers in Yorkshire are braced for substantial strike action in June as workers challenge Arriva’s failure to tackle low pay. Over 650 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have recorded 96 per cent vote in favour of strike action following the company’s pitiful offer of a 4.1 per cent pay increase, far below the real inflation rate (RPI) which currently stands at 11.1 per cent. Indefinite (all out) strike action will begin on Monday 6 June involving bus drivers and engineers based at depots in Castleford, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Selby and Wakefield read more
Carlisle can factory strikes to hit summer supplies of Coca Cola, Heineken, Brewdog and Magners – June pay strikes at Carlisle’s Crown Bevcan factory will hit summer supplies of cans of Coca Cola, Heineken, Brewdog, Magners and Bulmers, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday 24 May). Around 200 workers, who have already taken two days of strike action over a three per cent pay offer, will strike on 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 June. The tin can production workers are seeking a pay deal that reflects rising living costs read more
Unite says Marine Scotland strikes on after impasse in talks with Scottish Government – Unite the union has confirmed today (Tuesday 24 May) that strike action at Marine Scotland will go ahead following a failure by the Scottish government to make an improved pay offer. The trade union has been engaged in several rounds of discussions with the Scottish government following a two per cent pay imposition for 2021, which Unite contests could constitute an ‘unlawful inducement’. However, with the Scottish Government refusing to re-open pay talks for 2021, strikes are to go ahead. Unite members at Marine Scotland in seafaring roles will now take part in two separate periods of 48-hour strike action involving Marine Protection Vessels (MPV) Hirta on 26 and 27 May, and Jura on 3 and 4 June. The vessels are normally based at Aberdeen harbour read more
Hinkley Point facing delivery delays as engineering workers strike in pay dispute – The flagship Hinkley Point nuclear power plant development could face significant delays due to a pay dispute at Darchem Engineering in Stockton-on-Tees. Strike action will hit Darchem Engineering, which manufactures industrial pond liners for Hinkley Point as part of £200 million contract with the next delivery due in June. The workers are challenging an increasing pay disparity between trades at the company. The welders’ pay has increased by over £2 an hour but the company has refused to give a similar increase to the platers and sheet metal workers. Industrial action by Unite’s members will begin with an overtime ban starting on Monday 6 June. This will then be followed by three 48-hour strikes beginning on Monday 13 June, Monday 20 June and Monday 27 June. Further strikes could be called depending on the response of the employer read more
Langford Lodge strikes to go ahead as Unite pursues pay rise and action on equal pay scandal – Unite has notified management at Crumlin-based Langford Lodge that their workers will commence a first week of strike action in pursuit of a pay increase from 00.01am on Thursday 26 May. The union also wants the scandal of unequal pay addressed at the company. A significant grouping of women machinists for example are being paid £1.93 per hour less than male colleagues while they do work of similar or equal value. The strike is an escalation of an overtime ban previously in force at the RLC Engineering-owned, precision engineering aerospace manufacturer. Last minute talks failed to result in agreement on the pay and equality improvements sought by Unite, leaving the union’s members with no alternative but to follow through on plans for a first week of strike action read more
Hackney council strikes escalate as parking services workers join pay dispute – Strikes at Hackney council will escalate in the coming weeks, Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned, with 70 parking services workers now joining more than 200 of their colleagues in a dispute over pay. Staff working in refuse, building services and disability transport services took six days of strike action in late April and early May over an ‘insulting’ 1.75 per cent pay offer. With the real rate of inflation (RPI) now running at 11.1 per cent, strike action is set to step up in the coming weeks. In addition, Hackney parking services staff are to be balloted for industrial action over pay and conditions after their department was insourced back to the council on 1 April this year – potentially bringing the total number of striking workers to 270. Parking services staff have been told that negotiations over their pay, terms and conditions will not even be considered until next year. The workers are on inferior wages and contracts compared to other Hackney council workers read more
C2C rail passengers warned of disruption as Alstom workers begin strike over pay attacks – Passengers using the C2C rails line between London and Southend are set for considerable disruption over the coming weeks as maintenance engineers employed by Alstom take strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions. Strikes are due to begin tomorrow (Monday 9 May) with further action scheduled for 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 May and 3 June. Disruption to services is likely on both the strike days and on days following the strike action. An overtime ban is also in force. The workers are taking action following a series of attacks on their pay and condition and concerns about high sickness and low morale at Alstom, the French company that bought Bombardier in 2020. The workers recorded a 95 per cent yes vote in favour of strike action read more
Unite industrial action set to hit Renfrewshire Council elections – Unite has today (29 April) confirmed days of industrial action which is set to hit the Renfrewshire Council elections on 5 May. Around 200 craft workers employed by the local authority will take part in strike action commencing at 08:00 hours on 3 May and up to 6 May when the action will conclude at 13:00 hours. An overtime ban will also be in place during this time. Unite’s members are responsible for setting up and dismantling the polling stations and were also due to deliver the ballot boxes to the count in the forthcoming council elections. Tradespersons and apprentices working within Building Services covered by the local authority craft agreement at Renfrewshire Council have previously voted unanimously to back strike action read more
Rugby GE Steam strikes could worsen as company uses outside consultants to ‘undermine’ union – The first strikes in 45 years at Rugby’s 120-year-old GE Steam turbine factory could worsen as the company uses outside consultancy firm Shape Associates to ‘undermine’ union organisation. Unite, the UK’s leading union, is preparing to re-ballot more than 75 of its members at the factory to extend strike action over attacks on pay. The initial round of strike action began on 17 April and is due to end on 2 May, with the next strike on 29 April. The union said GE Steam has given over the responsibility of running the factory to Shape Associates so the consultancy firm can force through cutbacks prior to the site’s sale to EDF read more
Unite urges Woolwich Ferry – seize opportunity to resolve dispute as strike ballot suspended to kick-start talks – Woolwich Ferry’s workers have suspended their industrial action and also plans to hold another strike ballot in a goodwill gesture to resolve the long-running dispute, Unite the union said today (Tuesday 5 April). Unite has put forward proposals, which remain confidential, to Transport for London (TfL) bosses to kick-start meaningful talks over the poor employment relations that have been the hallmark of successive operators of the troubled ferry. Six workers, including two Unite reps, still remain unfairly suspended when the last bout of industrial action ended on 28 March read more
Strike action continues as GE Aviation accused of ‘dirty tricks’ in Gloucester pay dispute – Workers at Gloucester’s Hurricane Road GE Aviation factory will be striking every Friday until their call for a fair wage is honoured, Unite the union has said today (Tuesday 29 March). Multinational GE Aviation has been accused of `dirty tricks’ in an attempt to undermine the workers. The 90-plus workers are employed by GE’s subsidiary Dowty Propellers. The workers have rejected a two year pay offer worth just 4.5 per cent which, with the actual level of inflation (retail price index) standing at 8.2 per cent, amounts to a real terms pay cut read more
Veolia workers across Edinburgh and Lothians set to strike over `insulting’ pay offer – Unite can confirm today (24 March) that more than 50 members working for Veolia Water across Edinburgh and the Lothians are set to take strike action in a dispute over pay. The strike action, involving plant operatives, electrical maintenance, mechanical, and administrative staff, was supported overwhelmingly by 94 per cent of Unite’s members in a ballot turnout of 83 per cent. The Veolia workers are demanding a significantly improved pay offer from the company. With the more realistic cost of living (RPI) currently running at 8.2 per cent per cent, Veolia’s offer of 2.6 per cent for this year is a pay cut. Strike action will take place from 7-13 April, and then continuous strike action from 21 April read more
PCS
PCS sends solidarity to RMT strikers (21 June) – Your struggle is our struggle is the message from PCS to RMT members taking strike action this week. RMT members working for Network Rail and the Train Operators are striking for 3 days this week – today, Thursday and Saturday, while members on the London Underground are also on strike today. The union says in the face of a massive attack on its members the RMT cannot be passive read more
PCS warns of high levels of industrial action if government fails to tackle cost-of-living crisis (20 June) – We will see high levels of industrial action across the public sector unless the government takes decisive action to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka has warned. Speaking to Kay Burley on Sky News this morning, Mark explained that we would balloting 150,000 civil servants for industrial action on pay and against job cuts in September read more
PCS pledges to continue to fight DWP cuts as voluntary redundancy scheme launched (16 June) – PCS is demanding DWP staff are allowed to work from home to deliver essential services rather than lose their jobs in the communities that they currently serve as the department launches a voluntary redundancy scheme read more
Strong support for British Council strike (16 June) – British Council workers on UK contracts took their first of three days of strike action yesterday. British Council members are on strike for three days over cuts, redundancies and privatisation. Picket lines took place in London and Manchester, with union members across the globe participating in the strike on social media. Members from London and Manchester travelled to Westminster to lobby members of parliament to build support for the campaign read more
PCS calls on PM to put right unacceptable treatment of facilities management staff (15 June) – Government support staff are calling on Boris Johnson to make payment of the Real Living Wage a condition of awarding contracts to companies providing services to the civil service read more
Demand decent pay for government cleaners and security guards (14 June) – Demand all government cleaners, security guards and facilities workers are paid at least the Real Living Wage and occupational sick pay. We have a launched a new e-action to MPs to coincide with International Justice for Cleaners and Security Guards Day tomorrow (15 June) read more
Ask your MP to support our claim for fair pay for OCS staff (14 June) – Ahead of the launch of our strike ballot for PCS members employed by OCS on the HMCTS security contract we have tabled an Early Day Motion asking for a pay rise and improved terms and conditions. PCS members employed by OCS on the HMCTS security contract are currently in dispute with their employer over pay, terms and conditions. A ballot for industrial action will open on Thursday (16 June). OCS is an accredited living wage employer and has committed to pay its workers £11.05 in London and £9.90 outside the capital, however it is refusing to meet our demands for the payment of the real living wage. To tie in with the opening of the ballot, we have tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) for MPs to show their support for our demands read more
Protest the Tories’ summer fundraiser at the V&A (13 June) – Join the PCS V&A branch outside the V&A Museum from 6pm on Monday 20 June to tell the Tories that a 2% pay rise for public sector workers is not enough. With double digit inflation and a cost-of-living crisis, the Tory government’s solution is a 2-3% pay rise for public sector workers. The Conservative Party will hold their £20,000 a table fundraiser at the Victoria and Albert Museum on 20 June read more
Protest at Stormont to demand urgent action on cost-of living crisis (13 June) – The cost-of-living crisis is the focus of a rally and protest PCS is supporting at Stormont, the home of the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast, at noon on 25 June. Workers and their families are bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis as we emerge from the pandemic, where for so many workers, work simply does not pay. As part of a series of initiatives the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions is calling on union members to make their united voices heard loudly on 25 June read more
GMB
Wiltshire traffic wardens issue 60 fines a day (20 June) – Wiltshire traffic wardens dish out an average of 60 tickets a day – but none were issued on strike days, a GMB investigation shows. During the 53 days from 1 April to 23 May this year, Wiltshire traffic wardens issued 3,140 PCNS – peaking with a massive 121 on 2 April. But on May 7 and 17, when traffic wardens down tools in anger at the council’s pay cut threat, absolutely none were issued. GMB says this means the authority could miss out on up to £200,000 in lost parking charges and fines during the forthcoming week long traffic warden strike [30 June – 7 July] read more
Wiltshire traffic wardens announce another week of strikes of fire and rehire (15 June) – GMB union has called a seven day strike of all traffic wardens (Civil Enforcement Officers) in Wiltshire from Thursday 30 June until Wednesday 6 July. This follows two days of strikes which took place in May. The union members are opposing a pay cut of 10 per cent for traffic wardens, which would mean a £2,000 annual pay cut. Wiltshire Council is seeking to save £800,000 by withdrawing contractual unsocial hours payments from almost 350 staff, including social workers, and care workers. During strike days, Penalty Charge Notices for unlawful parking will not be issued, and parking charges in council car parks will not be enforced, losing the council up to £30,000 per day read more
Strike looms at Stafford abrasives company (20 June) – Strike action looms at a Saint Gobain, in Stafford, over a pay dispute. Bosses at the company, which makes sandpaper, diamond blades, tools and other abrasives are tying to impose a real terms pay cut on GMB members. GMB will begin a consultative ballot this month, with a full strike ballot to follow read more
Bolt announces ‘bogus substitution model’ after GMB legal threat (17 June) – Bolt has announced a ‘bogus substitution model’ just 24 hours after the GMB threatened the company with legal action. GMB is set to lodge claims with the Employment Tribunal for worker status for Bolt App drivers. In response, the company today released new terms that allows for licensed private hire drivers to substitute their work to another driver read more
Week-long South London hospital strike to go ahead from Monday (15 June) – Cleaners and Hostesses at St Georges Hospital in Tooting will take a full week of strike action beginning Monday 20 June. The workers, who are employed by NHS contractor Mitie, are taking industrial action with the support of their union, GMB. The dispute, which centres around pay and conditions, has already seen large numbers walk out for three days. The previous strike action led to at least one operation being cancelled and hospital wards going uncleaned read more
Calderdale hospital workers to protest over poverty pay (15 June) – Calderdale hospital workers are to stage a protest in anger at poverty pay. Dozens of security officers, domestics, call handlers, caterers, porters and receptionists will gather outside the hospital on 18 June, 2022. The workers are employed by ISS and are angry at receiving worse pay, terms and conditions than their colleagues directly employed by the NHS. At other nearby hospitals, such as Bradford and Leeds, workers in identical roles are paid higher rates. Across other local hospitals, such as Leeds, workers are paid higher NHS rates read more
Hinkley Point supply engineers strike (14 June) – Plating engineers creating products to supply to the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station go on strike today [13 June] in a pay dispute. Dozens of workers at Darchem Engineering, in Stockton-Upon-Tees, will walk out today after welders working for same firm were given an additional pay supplement , while the engineers weren’t. Further strikes are planned for 20,21,28 and 29 June. Industrial action could lead to big delays at Hinkley Point C – the £25 billion nuclear reactor in Somerset read more
GMB takes HM coastguard to court over workers’ rights (14 June) – GMB is taking HM Coastguard to court over workers rights, GMB congress heard. Coastguard heroes risk their lives to save others and police our shores but are treated worse than any other government worker, the union said. In 2022, the 200th anniversary of the HM Coastguard Service, GMB is fighting for proper employment status for these dedicated professionals. GMB Congress takes place in Harrogate from 12 – 16 June read more
Wandsworth parking wardens set for strike action (8 June) – GMB union members who work as parking wardens in the London Borough of Wandsworth will be going on strike over pay. The members, who are employed by NSL Parking Services, will be taking industrial action on 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 June 2022. The workers have previously had to resort to strike action in 2018 and the council, when under Conservative control have been offering below-inflation pay rises to all outsourced workers within the borough read more
Garbage chaos looms as London’s largest waste transfer stations set for strike (8 June) – GMB union members based at the largest waste transfer stations in London are set to take strike action over pay. Waste transfer stations collect commercial and household rubbish before it’s sent to landfill or recycled. The members, employed by Cory Environmental Ltd have rejected the company’s full and final pay offer as it falls well short of inflation and is therefore a de facto pay cut. All of the major waste carriers in South London use the sites at Smugglers Way in Wandsworth and Cringle Dock in Battersea, including Veolia, Biffa, Amey, Serco and Continental Landscapes, as well as the general public. The union are warning residents of all South London boroughs to expect a knock-on effect on their waste collection services, since no local waste sites have the capacity to store the large volumes of rubbish that would build up in the event that the Cory sites close read more
Rhondda faces bin strike after workers vote for industrial action – Rhondda residents look set to face a bin strike after GMB members in the waste and recycling department voted for industrial action. GMB members at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council refuse and recycling dept have voted overwhelmingly to support industrial action with a majority of 95 percent. The move could see 130 people strike in May, leaving around 108,000 homes without refuse collections. The union is calling for amendments to the job evaluation scheme after the current system leaves essential workers short-changed for their work. During the pandemic, refuse workers alongside other essential service workers were put at risk, whilst council big wigs worked from home. Over the last decade local government staff have seen their wages cut by around 25 percent read more
Budweiser workers announce summer strike dates (19 May) – Budweiser workers have announced a series of summer strikes following a pay dispute. A total of 225 GMB members working at BBG’s Samlesbury site, near Preston, will down tools in a series of dates in June in anger over a real terms pay cut. It is the first time workers at the site, which brews Budweiser, Stella Artois, Becks, Boddingtons and Export Pale Ale, have gone in strike in its 50 year history. After months of discussion with the world’s biggest brewer they tabled a full and final offer of 3 per cent increase for 2022 and 3 per cent for 2023 with increases in overtime rates. With the cost-of-living crises and inflation at 11.1%, the offer amounts to a massive pay cut in real terms read more
Fox’s Glacier Mint workers strike over fire and rehire threat – Fox’s Glacier Mint workers will take a full day of strike action tomorrow [April 14] in anger at the company’s fire and rehire threat. Staff at Valeo York, who also make Poppets and humbugs, mint assortments butter mints, rhubarb and custards and lemon sherberts for well-known supermarkets including M&S, will be joined by the Yorkshire Polar Bear and local councillors read more
Barrow bin strike: Six more days of industrial action – Refuse collectors in Barrow have announced six more days of industrial action in their fight for a living wage. GMB members working FCC Environment will walk out on from 30 March to 1 April and then 6 to 8 April read more
Unison
Care staff announce strikes over fire and rehire plans (17 June) – Bristol care company St Monica Trust wants to cut pay by £400 a month. Care workers, registered nurses and residential home staff employed by Bristol-based care company St Monica Trust have announced a series of strike dates over threats to sack them unless they accept a pay cut, says UNISON today (Friday). More than 100 staff at four care homes across the south west of England were told in March that they must accept inferior new contracts – costing them thousands of pounds a year and watering down their sick pay – or be fired, says the union. The first strike to oppose the move will take place on 29 June, with further action planned for 2, 5, 10 and 11 July. Strikes will take place in the trust’s care homes across South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset, UNISON says read more
University of Leeds members prepare to strike again (17 June) – Action is over the 2021-22 pay round with member resoundingly rejecting the latest offer. The University of Leeds branch is taking further strike action over the 2021-22 pay round, next week, on 20-24 June. Members have lost 20% of their pay against inflation over 12 years. They have used the pay calculator to show just how many thousands of pounds staff are being cheated in their pay read more
NIPSA
Fight Back on the Cost of Living – Cost of Living Crisis March and Rally
Demand that the NI Assembly Pay Civil and Public Servants Inflation Plus a Real Pay Increase
NIPSA is calling on all members to join the fight for a real cost of living pay increases for all Public and Civil Servants. As a step in this campaign we are asking members to support two demonstrations that have been called by the trade union movement.
- UNITE Demonstration – Saturday 18 June 2022 12.30pm Belfast City Hall
- ICTU Demonstration – Saturday 25 June 2022 12.00 noon Stormont, Main Gate on the Upper Newtownards Road
In the history of the NI Assembly, it has never addressed the key issues facing workers and their families. Civil and Public Servants have seen a year on year decline in the value of their pay. This cost of living crisis is set to be the worst in decades and inflation is expected to rise even further. While big business made a killing from COVID-19, the Civil and Public Service workers who guided society through the pandemic are now facing in-work poverty. It is time to send a clear message to all Northern Ireland political parties to say, ‘enough is enough’. They must start delivering for workers and their families and must start now by taking immediate action to address the cost of living crisis. I am calling on NIPSA members and their families to attend the rallies and add their voices to the call for action by all the political parties here.
Carmel Gates General Secretary
CWU
Cost of living concerns escalated at 14forty (21 June) – The CWU has pledged to persist in its efforts to secure an additional ‘cost of living’ pay increase at 14forty despite an initial knockback from the outsourced facilities services provider. Back in January members working for 14forty at the CWU-represented Capita sites in Leeds, Preston Brook and Glasgow received a long campaigned for uplift to the Real Living Wage after years of lobbying by the union. But although that meant a highly welcome 6.7% pay rise for staff just after Christmas – and a further 40p per hour increase to the new RLW (outside London) rate of £9.90 when that came into force in April – both rises have effectively been negated by the current cost of living crisis read more
2022 Summer of Struggle – trade union movement takes fighting message to Westminster (June 20) – “Saying enough is enough is just the start, we’re building a movement led by workers and communities,” our general secretary Dave Ward CWU told the thousands crammed into Parliament Square at the climax of Saturday’s 50,000-strong New Deal for Workers demonstration. And what a huge success the day was, with an estimated 4,000 CWU members making up possibly the largest – and definitely the loudest and liveliest – of the many contingents from all of our UK trade unions at one of the most significant working-class protests for many years. Branches from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England – north, south, east and west – turned out for the day, determined to make their voices heard and to take the opportunity to unite with all of our sisters and brothers across the UK trade union movement. With our marchers all wearing either special event T-shirts or hi-viz jackets, CWU pink was the top colour of the day – but the most popular item was the new bucket hat, bringing 1990s style into the roaring 2020s! Read more
Rallying cry for Openreach members ends remarkable week of campaigning (June 10) – Members across Openreach have delivered the clearest possible indication of their willingness to fight for a decent cost of living pay rise, with no fewer than 9.000 tuning in live to an online CWU mass meeting last night. The event was the last of three hugely successful CWU Live question and answer sessions held this week to brief members on the BT Group-wide industrial action ballot that will commence on Wednesday next week (June 15). As with the previous broadcasts, aimed at members in EE and BT on Monday and Wednesday respectively, numerous comments posted by participants revealed a razor sharp appreciation of the critical issues at stake – notably the importance of standing firm in defence of pay being negotiated rather than imposed as a fait-accompli by management. “If we do nothing, BT will walk all over us,” one member observed. “We’ve never received a pay rise because we work for a generous philanthropic employer – it’s because of this union fighting on our behalf.” Read more
BT Group-wide strike ballot to commence on June 15 – BT, Openreach and EE bosses given ultimatum to budge on pay, or face the first BT Group-wide industrial action ballot in 35 years. The countdown has begun towards the first national statutory industrial action ballot in BT Group since 1987. Barring movement from a senior management team which has so far shown itself impervious to a tidal wave of employee fury over the imposition of a real-term pay cut, voting papers will be despatched to 40,000 members in BT, Openreach and EE on Wednesday June 15. If, as the CWU confidently expects, the ballot confirms members’ outright rejection of a vicious attack on living standards by a hugely profitable blue chip employer, BT bosses will have no-one but themselves to blame for the first company-wide strike in 35 years. At the heart of the dispute, after all, is the company’s abandonment of time-honoured negotiating protocols based on partnership and consent that have underpinned decades of industrial peace. This year, for the very first time, an unagreed pay settlement has been imposed within 24 hours of its formal rejection by the CWU read more
Royal Mail chiefs compared to Victorian-age bosses (June 7) – ‘Pushem & Sloggem’ quip from CWU delegate at yesterday’s Liverpool briefing summed up the anger and frustration of hard-working postmen and women around the country, as the Royal Mail pay dispute heads towards a national strike ballot. “When does the ballot start?” was the big question as branch, area and local unit reps from the North West, North East, Scotland and Northern Ireland gathered in central Liverpool for the third of three regional briefings on the current situation – and from the loud cheers and prolonged standing ovation that greeted DGSP Terry Pullinger’s closing speech, it was abundantly clear that our activists are ready for the campaign read more
Post Office Supply Chain & Admin strike hits hard (June 6) – Hundreds walk out from depots and units across the UK this morning, following up on Saturday’s Crown counters action. From Belfast to Birmingham and from Aberdeen to Swansea, cash collection and delivery drivers and their admin colleagues stopped work, just two days after counters staff closed Crown Offices across the country in their ongoing fight for a fair pay rise. Speaking from a lively picket line at Hemel Hempsted, CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey said: “This is the second bout of industrial action and I want to thank our members for their fantastic support and solidarity today and on Saturday. This weekend has shown once again that Post Office workers will not accept the appalling treatment by senior management and that they will keep fighting until a fair deal is achieved.” Post Office bosses refused to award any pay rise at all for 2021/22 and have put forward what the union describes as a “derisory” proposal for 2022/23 consisting of a 2.5 per cent wage increase and a £500 lump sum read more
NEU
Support these strikes:-
NASUWT
Teachers prepare for national industrial action ahead of pay award uncertainty (19 June) – The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union will ballot members for national industrial action if the Government does not deliver pay restoration for teachers. The Union will ballot members in England, Wales and Scotland for industrial action in November should the teachers’ pay award for 2022/23 fall short of demands. After 12 years of pay erosion, teachers are now facing the biggest squeeze on their living standards for half a century. Energy bills alone have shot up by 54%, but the value of teachers’ pay has slumped by 20%. Now two in three teachers are being forced consider how much longer they can afford to remain in the profession. To prevent an unprecedented retention crisis and protect the future of education, the NASUWT believes teachers must receive a 12% pay award this year. NASUWT members from across the UK took part in the largest demonstration of working people in a decade yesterday, marching for a better deal for teachers as part of a national cost of living rally in Central London read more
Further action warning over Isle of Man teachers’ pay imposition (17 June) – The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union has condemned the imposition of a below-inflation pay award for teachers in the Isle of Man. The award for 2021/22 has been imposed by the Government despite the NASUWT rejecting it. NASUWT members are currently engaged in action short of strike action over pay, workload and working practices. This action will continue following the imposition of the pay award and we are warning ministers that we will now have no option but to consider an escalation of the action, potentially up to and including strike action read more
EIS
Teachers in Western Isles Willing to take Industrial Action over Council’s Remote Learning Plans (15 June) – EIS members in Secondary Schools in the Western Isles have been taking part in a consultative ballot for industrial action over an imposition of harmonised timetables which would see an increase in online learning as the default method of teaching. Members were asked “Are you prepared to take part in industrial action consisting of strike action in pursuit of Western Isles’ Local Association dispute on harmonised timetables and digitalised learning?” The ballot closed at 12.30pm today (Wednesday) and the results are as follows: Turnout 74%; 88% – yes, 12% – no. Western Isles’ Local Association Executive will now arrange to meet and discuss the results read more
EIS issues formal strike notice over Dundee schools faculty plan (June 8) – The EIS has issued a legal strike notice to Dundee Council over the authority’s plans to introduce a faculty structure in its Secondary schools. An initial day of strike action will take place on the 22nd of June across all of Dundee’s Secondary schools. Following the Council’s decision to press ahead with its plans, and to announce the recruitment of Faculty heads in the media this week, the EIS has now withdrawn an invitation to the Lord Provost to speak at the EIS Annual General Meeting (AGM) which starts at Dundee Caird Hall on Thursday. The EIS AGM is regularly held in Dundee, and is worth around £1Millon to the local economy, but the EIS may now seek to review its association with the city in light of the ongoing dispute read more
UCU
University of Wolverhampton course cuts breach government regulations, says UCU (17 June) – UCU has written to the Office for Students (OfS) urging it to investigate the University of Wolverhampton’s plans to cull 146 courses, which the union believes breach government regulations. The suspension of 146 courses would see significant numbers of staff losing their jobs and would have a devastating impact on current and future students as well as the local community. Courses the university wants to cut include performing arts, fashion, social sciences, interior design and fine art read more
New City College threatened with strike action over pay, workload and use of fire and rehire (17 June) – UCU members at New City College (NCC) are being balloted for industrial action from today over failures to agree pay rises, level up holiday leave and agree action to reduce workload. Staff are also threatening strike action against plans to fire and rehire 59 staff at Hackney Campus over changes to sick leave policy. The ballot will run from 17 June until 15 July, and if successful could pave the way for strike action at campuses across East London. It follows an overwhelming 86% of UCU members indicating they would be prepared to back strike action in a consultative ballot with a turnout of 73% read more
University of Huddersfield staff vow to fight brutal cuts to arts & humanities (16 June) – UCU has today vowed to fight brutal cuts to arts and humanities provision at the University of Huddersfield. The pledge comes after the university threatened to sack 37 staff in the School of Arts and Humanities. The university claims it needs to axe the staff due to a fall in student numbers. Included in the proposed cuts are 11 staff in the department of History, English, Linguistics & Music; four in department of Media & Performance; three in the department of Arts & Communications; seven in the department of Fashion & Textiles; and five in the department of Architecture & 3D Design read more
Strike ballot opens today at colleges across England over low pay (14 June) – Strikes at 33 colleges in England could be on the cards as industrial ballots opened today in a dispute over low pay, unmanageable workloads and professional respect. The ballot closes on Friday 15 July read more
Extra strike day at Richmond upon Thames College over Fire & Rehire (8 June) – Staff at Richmond upon Thames College will warn prospective students and parents about the behaviour of college management as an extra strike day was called to coincide with college open days in a bitter dispute over plans to fire and rehire 127 teachers. UCU members at Richmond upon Thames College will down tools on Tuesday 28 June, both of which is an open day. The college describes the open days as an opportunity to ‘meet our teachers’ and ‘speak to our teaching staff’. The dispute has seen over 70 staff take five consecutive days of strike action last month (Monday 23 to Friday 27 May) as they try to stop plans by management to sack all 127 teachers at the college and force them to reapply for their jobs on worse terms and conditions. UCU had offered to pause any further action if management lifts the threat of compulsory dismissals for staff that do not sign new contracts. However, management has repeatedly refused and insists staff would have to reapply for their jobs on new contracts that would see them lose 10 days holiday read more
Strike off at Hopwood Hall College after staff win pay rise of up to 7.5% (7 June) – Strike action due to take place today and Friday 10 June at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale and Middleton, Greater Manchester, has been called off after staff overwhelmingly voted to accept a pay offer worth up to 7.5%. For 2022/23 the offer amounts to more than 6% (6.49%) and over 7% (7.52%) for lecturers on the lowest salaries. The deal comes as another four colleges in the region walk out today and Friday. UCU has urged the other employers to make improved pay offers and avoid any further disruption. The four colleges facing strike action are: Burnley College, City of Liverpool College, Manchester College and Oldham College. Staff have been on picket lines at college entrances since 8am today and will be on picket lines at 8am on Friday (10 June). Staff from the four colleges are also holding a rally at 12pm on Friday in Sackville Gardens read more
Colleges across North West England take strike action from tomorrow (17 May) – UCU members across the North West of England will be on strike tomorrow in a dispute over low pay read more
University marking boycott begins Monday despite ‘lock out’ threats (20 May) – UCU urged vice chancellors to revoke pension cuts and meet staff demands for improvements to pay and working conditions as it confirmed that more than 20 universities will proceed to a marking boycott on Monday despite threats of 100% pay deductions from some rogue bosses. The boycott means university staff will stop marking work, returning marks and setting or sitting exams and coursework. The graduations of well over 100,000 students are set to be disrupted. UCU also warned rogue bosses against docking pay and using external contractors to bus in unqualified workers to mark work during the boycott read more
Furness College staff to strike on Wednesday over low pay (17 May) – On Wednesday 18 May lecturers at Furness College will strike after management refused to offer staff more than a paltry 1% increase in pay whilst staff face soaring inflation and a cost of living emergency. Inflation is currently at 9%, meaning the 1% offer is a real term pay cut. Staff will be picketing outside the main entrance of college from 8am Wednesday morning. The strike comes after overwhelming 93% of University and College Union (UCU) members who voted in industrial ballots said yes to strike action. Further days of strike action are planned for 8 and 9 June if management continues to refuse to pay staff more read more
Staff at 24 UK universities back further strike action in ballot over USS pension cuts –
- Almost eight in ten (79.5%) back strikes
- Dispute over cuts of 35% to guaranteed retirement incomes of staff
- UCU calls for new valuation of USS scheme as value of assets soars
- Union’s members holding meeting later this month to decide next steps in pension dispute
Staff at 24 UK universities have secured a mandate to take further strike action in a dispute over cuts to pensions which could see disruption continue throughout the rest of the academic year. Overall, eight in ten (79.5%) backed strike action with almost nine in ten (88.1%) voting for action short of strike (ASOS). The vote in favour of strike action is higher than it was during the ballots that concluded in November last year, where 76% backed strike action. Today’s results mean that staff at 27 universities have a mandate to take strike action over pensions which will last until October 2022. Staff at Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University did not take part in the ballots but will join any possible action as their mandate remains live. Queen Mary University of London has a live mandate until July read more
Staff at 36 UK universities back further strike action in ballot over pay and working conditions –
- More than seven in ten (74%) back strikes
- Employers more intransigent than ever, UCU says
- Union’s members holding meeting later this month to decide next steps
Staff at thirty-six UK universities have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay and working conditions which could see higher education hit by further disruption this academic year. Overall, over seven in ten of those who voted (74%) backed strike action with over eight in ten (85.9%) voting for action short of strike. The vote in favour of strike action is higher than it was during the ballots that concluded in November last year, where 70.1% backed strike action read more
Support the UCU Goldsmiths strikes – University and College Union (UCU) members at Goldmiths University are continuing to take strike action 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. 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. Follow @GoldsmithsUCU on twitter and on Facebook
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
European firefighters meet to discuss firefighter cancer and UK union’s work on this topic (June 16) – The UK Fire Brigades Union’s work on cancer in firefighters has been the focus of a Europe-wide meeting of firefighters and their representatives. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has led the way in the UK when it comes to tackling cancer in firefighters with its pioneering DECON project, which includes ground-breaking research and detailed training. The interim best practice report, published with the University of Central Lancashire, has been translated into 8 European languages read more
Firefighters marking Grenfell fifth anniversary (June 14) – Firefighters from fire brigades across the UK are marking the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell disaster today by participating in the silent walk organised and led by the bereaved, survivors and residents of Grenfell. The silent walks, which have taken place in the five years since the disaster, are held to mark those who lost their lives and call for justice for the disaster, with to date no one facing criminal charges read more
Grenfell fifth anniversary: firefighter numbers cut since Grenfell (June 14) – The Fire Brigades Union has revealed that 221 firefighter positions have been cut since Grenfell, as the fifth anniversary of the fire takes place on 14 June. The figure comes after large cuts to the fire and rescue service in the run-up to Grenfell, with for example the UK losing over 11,000 firefighter roles between 2010 and 2017, which is nearly one in five, and represent a failure to change course after years of deep cuts prior to Grenfell read more
New “massively significant” Grenfell inquiry report released (June 13) – The Fire Brigades Union has termed a new report to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, released to the public today, “massively significant” evidence. The report, written by Professor Luke Bisby, a professor of fire and structures at Edinburgh University and an expert witness to the inquiry, details the flaws with the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the government’s former safety research and testing body that was privatised in 1997. It was responsible for testing many of the cladding, insulation and other building materials used in the Grenfell refurbishment. The report details previous cladding fires which can be viewed as missed opportunities to prevent Grenfell, and BRE failures around them. It also builds up a picture of BRE only doing work within contracts, and only specific things – close to client and government demands – within those contracts read more
BFAWU
News from the Food and Work Network (16 June) – Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary: “Trade Union Leaders Demand National Summit To Deal With National Food Emergency”. Scores of trade union leaders, academics and campaigners have today signed a joint letter calling on the UK Government, the devolved administrations, mayoralties and local councils to organise a national summit to help deliver a plan to help feed people and ensure that their basic needs are met. The many signatories, including Sharon Graham General Sec of Unite the Union, Sarah Wolley General Sec of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, and Dave Ward General Sec of the Communication Workers Union, together with over a dozen more trade union leaders, Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Professor Kate Pickett co-author of The Spirit Level, and Professor Alex Colas coordinator of the Food and Work Network make it clear that Britain is experiencing a National Food Emergency and that urgent action is needed read more
Unionise Samworths in Leicestershire – I’m writing to you on behalf of Unionise Samworths, a new campaign organised by the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) and the Peace and Justice Project. The campaign aims to organise workers at Samworth Brothers, Leicestershire’s longest private employer with 9 sites in the region and several more across the country, manufacturing well-known brands including Ginsters and Soreen, as well as supplying sandwiches to high street retailers including Tesco and M&S. Currently, Samworths do not recognise a trade union, do not pay workers a fair living wage and have recently made changes to the pension scheme meaning workers will lose out. We have started a petition and held a rally on the Sunday 19th June in Leicester as part of the campaign. As you can imagine, the campaign requires lots of resources and we hope you will be able to support this campaign through a financial donation. We’d also be grateful if your organisation shared our content on social media and through your mailing list. We would of course be delighted to discuss this further if you have any questions or please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email on [email protected] or 07525725859.
In solidarity, Unionise Samworths www.unionisesamworths.co.uk
NUJ
Dom Phillips’ apparent murder is a tragic blow to journalists and journalism (16 June) – NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet responded to a police press briefing last night stating that two bodies discovered appeared to be those of missing journalist Dom and indigenous activist Bruno Pereira read more
FEU write to Nadine Dorries over Channel 4 privatisation proposals (13 June) – The Federation of Entertainment Unions has written to Nadine Dorries urging her to reconsider the sale of Channel 4. In the letter from unions representing over 120,000 members working within the entertainment and creative industries, Dorries is reminded of the value provided by Channel 4, its position as a successful cultural asset, and the strength of feeling against current proposals read more
NUJ welcomes high court decision in libel case against Carole Cadwalladr (13 June) – Today’s judgment is a win for public interest journalism and press freedom. The libel case was brought by millionaire and co-founder of Brexit’s Leave campaign Arron Banks. His case against award-winning journalist Carole Cadwalladr stemmed from comments she made in a Ted talk and tweet, stating Banks had lied about his relationship with the Russian government. Banks argued these had defamed his character read more
BBC North West journalists vote for work to rule – NUJ members are making a stand about the damaging impact of job cuts on news outpt in the region. As well as working with a significantly reduced workforce, staff at BBC North West are now expected to take on more and more technical duties previously carried out by skilled technical staff. If allowed to continue, the quality of the regional news programmes will suffer and deteriorate, they say. More than 97 per cent of NUJ members in the chapel voted in favour of industrial action. It follows the BBC’s decision to cut £25m from BBC England’s budget, leading to 450 job cuts cross England. The vast majority of journalists who work for BBC North West are NUJ members read more
Prospect
Prospect Conference vows to build industrial response to civil service job cuts (14 June) – Delegates at Prospect National Conference in Bournemouth have condemned the government’s plan to cut 91,000 jobs and vowed to build an industrial response to the proposal. The move came as conference carried an emergency motion on the subject read more
Equity
6 out of 10 performing artists will struggle with essential costs due to the cost-of-living crisis (17 June) – We have published a new member survey revealing how performers and creative workers are struggling to survive due to the cost-of-living crisis – with the majority expected to struggle to meet essential costs and many considering leaving the profession. One member told us: “I don’t eat and my health has declined. I’ve even turned the gas off to my own home at stopcock as I can’t afford it. I sold my TV as I can’t afford a TV license. I don’t live, I exist.” Read more
Entertainment unions join forces to oppose Channel 4 privatisation (13 June) – Equity has signed a letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, to urge her to reconsider the Government’s plans to privatise Channel 4. The government recently confirmed this decision in their recently published White Paper alongside other policies impacting the broadcasting sector read more
USDAW
1 in 4 food retail workers skipping meals to pay bills – Usdaw calls for a new deal and action on the cost of living crisis (18 June) – Retail trade union Usdaw has today released a finding from their most recent cost of living survey of over 5,500 members who are mainly essential workers in the food retail industry. The survey found that one in four of these workers are skipping meals every month to pay bills, which is up from one in twenty in February 2021, and one in seven in February 2022. This clearly demonstrates the very real consequences on low-paid key workers of rocketing prices, energy bills and fuel costs read more
#ReinstateMax: defend sacked Tesco USDAW rep Max McGee – months on from exhausting all appeals, Max McGee is preparing to take Tesco to an Employment Tribunal over his trade union victimisation and sacking. A GoFundMe page has been set up to donate to Max’s reinstatement campaign and trade union comrades are encouraged to raise the campaign at their Trade Union branches and Trades Councils over the coming weeks. Link to the page below:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist
Messages of solidarity and photos can be sent to [email protected]
UVW
Breaking news: ‘everyone out!’ declare luxury apartment cleaners (20 June) – The cleaners at Riverside Quarter luxury apartments in Wandsworth have voted to strike. 100% of UVW members voted to take industrial action over their bosses’ failure to provide them with decent terms and conditions. The strike ballot results follow the news on Friday 10 June from the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) panel accepting their statutory recognition claim. On the eve of the ballot results, the cleaners bosses, Endersham Ltd, confirmed they were already in talks with clients about a pay rise – UVW awaits news. Ernesto Suarez Velarde, cleaning supervisor and UVW member from Bolivia, commented on the strike ballot results and said: “This is another step forward, another point in our favour, another battle we have won to be able to strike. It is very important, in any group in any country of the world, to be united so that we get what we want. We are defending our rights, because the truth is we need our wages to be increased, it is very difficult now with the inflation that is affecting workers not only in this country but all over the world.” A UVW spokesperson said: “Forcing your boss to sit down and negotiate with you is a good thing. But having the power to stand up and walk out, is the goal. That’s why our members at Riverside not only went for recognition and won in the CAC, but they also voted YES to strike.” They continued, “Our members are undeterred and will continue until they receive a proper living wage.” Read more
Great Ormond Street Hospital encouraged to ‘review its practices’ and ‘promote trust’, following UVW’s data complaint (20 June) – On 16 June, the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), the independent authority protecting data rights in the UK, upheld a complaint by United Voices of the World (UVW)‘s general secretary Petros Elia against the way Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has handled his personal data. The ICO has asked GOSH to explain and justify why they requested certain personal information from Elia which could be considered disproportionate and unreasonable and amount to an infringement of UK’s regulations. The ICO has urged GOSH to “review its practices”, to “demonstrate your compliance” to its customers and “work hard to promote trust.” In early March UVW general secretary submitted an Subject Access Request (SAR) that required GOSH to disclose all the information it had about him. This submission was made during a six-week industrial dispute by UVW members, the security guards at GOSH, and an unprecedented legal ruling that suppressed the guards’ right to strike. The ICO has now given GOSH until 13 July to justify why it requested additional information about Elia in order to process the SAR read more
Pub staff in Brighton fight back against union busting (17 June) – “We feel this is an attack on ourselves, workers that dared to organise, join a union and demand decent working conditions” – Saint James Tavern bar staff and UVW members. The brave Saint James Tavern pub workers in Brighton were called in for disciplinary proceedings by their bosses in mid June after they announced their lawful strike action. The workers and their union, United Voices of the World (UVW), believe this amounts to union victimisation. They are bringing legal action against the pub landlords. The UVW members have been accused of having defamed and brought the business into disrepute in the media and social media but have not been provided with any evidence to back this up. The workers said in a statement that they felt this was “an attack on us, workers that dared to organise, join a union and demand decent working conditions: full sick pay scheme, £11.50 an hour, 24-hour response security team, an end to zero-hour contracts and no cuts to staff hours.” Read more
Brighton bar staff gear up for strike action over better pay and conditions (10 June) – “On the picket we will show the power we have as a united work force and just how much support we have already managed to gain. A change is coming. The only variable is when” – Jake Marvin, Saint James Tavern, bar manager and UVW member. Bar staff at the Saint James Tavern (SJT) in central Brighton are launching two days of strike action over pay and working conditions, job security and respect at work. The workers will walk out on Saturday 25 June and Saturday 2 July. Last month, the pub workers, members of United Voices of the World (UVW), unanimously voted to strike with a 100% ‘yes’ vote on a 100% turnout, in a rare and brave display of resolve and togetherness read more
Latin American cleaners win union recognition (13 June) – A group of cleaners, UVW members, at Riverside Quarter luxury apartments have won collective bargaining rights following a three month campaign for dignity and respect. Riverside Quarter is a large private luxury residence located in Wandsworth, London. The development comprises around 650 flats across nine residential buildings, with commercial uses on the ground floor, one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses read more
IWGB
Outsourced Workers at LSHTM Set to Strike over Pay Following Escalating Union Victimisation (20 June) – Outsourced cleaners, porters, post room, and security staff working at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have voted unanimously in favour of strike action over poverty pay amidst the cost of living crisis. In April, workers from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) launched a campaign to bring an end to a discriminatory pay gap that would pay the majority-migrant and BAME workers below the lowest grade of the university-wide pay scale. This follows only months after a damning report revealing ingrained structural racism across the prestigious university, at academic staff and student level read more
Outsourced Cleaners Demonstrate Outside US Private Healthcare Giant Over Poverty Pay and Sick Pay (5 June) – Tomorrow at 3PM, cleaners from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) joined by Migrants Organise will protest outside private Healthcare giant HCA’s headquarters over poverty pay, lack of proper sick pay, and overwork. Amidst the cost of living crisis, Thursday’s protest comes only weeks after the Sue Gray report revealed mistreatment of cleaners in central government read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU members in Bausch and Lomb to ballot on WRC pay proposals (17 June) – SIPTU members employed at the Bausch and Lomb manufacturing plant in Waterford will ballot on pay proposals issued by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) this evening (Friday, 17th June) following intensive negotiations involving union representatives and management read more
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
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])
QC appointed to lead the independent Unite inquiry into blacklisting (25 Mar) – Unite is delighted to announce that Nick Randall QC and John Carl Townsend have been appointed to investigate the possible collusion by union officers in blacklisting. Over the past months, evidence gathering by Thompsons solicitors has continued, with many blacklisted construction workers and other witnesses having already been interviewed. The work of the independent investigators is expected to start officially on 11 April 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
Georgia: Solidarity with striking Borjomi workers read more
EIS General Secretary Joins International Call for Fair Presidential Election in Colombia read more
(From NUJ website) Turkey: multiple journalists arrested on terrorism charges (15 June) – At least 21 Kurdish journalists have been detained following police raids read more
Turkey: Statement of Solidarity with Imprisoned Gezi 8 – Signatories of a petition released today in Turkey sent a message of solidarity with the Gezi 8. “Whatever they said or did during the Gezi movement, we did the same, we said the same words. If they are convicted, we must be convicted too. If they are considered guilty, we are guilty too. We are reporting ourselves to the prosecutor’s office by declaring that we are in agreement with their ideas and actions” said the 888 signatories of the petition 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
June
18 TUC National Demonstration – 12noon Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1P 3BD read more
July
2 NSSN Conference 2022 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event
9 Durham Miners’ Gala 2022 Facebook event
15-17 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival 2022 read more
September
11 NSSN TUC Rally 1pm Brighton
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
