NSSN 609: UCU calls national strike in HE

The NSSN sends solidarity to the UCU as it calls a national strike involving 70,000 of its members in higher education. UCU members have already been taking action in further education. These strikes come as unions in the public sector join the rising strike wave, with other education unions launching industrial action ballots. In addition, PCS will be announcing the result of its industrial action ballot on Thursday, while workers in the NHS are also voting for action, and the FBU are holding a consultative ballot on pay.

The NSSN stands with all workers and their unions taking action against the Tory cost of living squeeze and the employers’ offensive. Solidarity!

UCU HE strike

UCU: Biggest ever university strikes set to hit UK campuses over pay, conditions & pensions (8 Nov) Over 70,000 university staff at 150 universities will strike for three days later this month over attacks on pay, working conditions and pensions. The National Union of Students (NUS) has backed the strikes, which will be the biggest ever to hit UK universities and could impact 2.5 million students.

UCU said disruption can be avoided if employers act fast and make improved offers. If they don’t, strike action will escalate in the New Year alongside a marking and assessment boycott.

The full strike dates in November are: Thursday 24 November, Friday 25 November, and Wednesday 30 November

Staff will also begin industrial action short of strike action from Wednesday 23 November, which includes working to rule, refusing to make up work lost as a result of strike action and refusing to cover for absent colleagues.

The strikes come after UCU members overwhelmingly voted ‘yes’ to industrial action last month in two historic national ballots over attacks on pay and working conditions as well as pension cuts. Despite the result, vice-chancellors have not made any improved offers.

In the pay and working conditions dispute, the union’s demands include a meaningful pay rise to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and action to end the use of insecure contracts. Employers imposed a pay rise worth just 3% this year following over a decade of below inflation pay awards. A third of academic staff are on some form of temporary contract.

In the pension dispute, UCU is demanding employers revoke the cuts and restore benefits. The package of cuts made earlier this year will see the average member lose 35% from their guaranteed future retirement income. For those at the beginning of their careers the losses are in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The UK university sector generated record income of £41.1bn last year with vice chancellors collectively earning an estimated £45million. UCU said the sector can more than afford to meet staff demands.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Campuses across the UK are about to experience strike action on a scale never seen before. 70,000 staff will walk out and make clear they refuse to accept falling pay, cuts to pensions and insecure employment. This is not a dispute about affordability – it is about choices. Vice-chancellors are choosing to pay themselves hundreds of thousands of pounds whilst forcing our members onto low paid and insecure contracts that leave some using foodbanks. They choose to hold billions in surpluses whilst slashing staff pensions. UCU members do not want to strike but are doing so to save the sector and win dignity at work. This dispute has the mass support of students because they know their learning conditions are our members’ working conditions. If university vice-chancellors don’t get serious, our message is simple – this bout of strike action will be just the beginning.’

NUS vice president higher education Chloe Field said: ‘Students stand in solidarity with the 70,000 university staff across the UK who will strike later this month. Staff teaching conditions are students’ learning conditions, and we must fight together for a fairer, healthier education system for everyone who works and studies. This is the fifth year in a row that government cuts to education and workers’ rights have resulted in strike action on our campuses. In that time, staff and students have stood together in the fight for better pay and conditions for all university staff, including the thousands of postgraduate students on increasingly casualised contracts. The struggles we face as students are inextricably linked to the reasons that staff are striking. High rents, astronomical international student fees, and cuts to maintenance support have happened for the same reasons that staff are suffering under huge workloads – the failed marketisation of the sector which has put profit above staff and student well-being. Universities and employers must come to the table and take meaningful action to end these disputes. They have a responsibility to their staff and students to end unacceptable pay disparities for racialised staff, disabled staff, and women, and to protect staff pensions to that they can have a decent retirement. As the workers of the future, students have everything to gain from UCU members winning this fight.’

UCU is calling a national strike demonstration in London on the 3rd strike day – Wednesday 30th November

 

The TUC is organising town hall rallies around the country. Find your local event here.

‘The working class is back as a movement’ – Enough is Enough read more on CWU website. People can find out about events and how to join the campaign via the Enough is Enough website

 

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]

The NSSN is developing a campaign pack for social care, which we hope to make available in the not-too-distant future for supporters to use in their localities. As part of this, communications officer Dave Gorton is keen to hear from supporters who:

(1) work in social care (either local authority, private or independently provided)

(2) represent social care workers for a trade union

(3) are in need of social care provision themselves or act as an (unpaid/underpaid) carer for a family member

Dave can be contacted in the first instance via [email protected]

 

Union News

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RMT

RMT National Dispute Fund

Update from RO on talks with LUL – Strike on 10th Nov 2022! – Your RMT negotiators met London Underground yesterday (8/11/22)  and offered to suspend our strike action if management agreed to:

  • Suspend the implementation of 600 station job cuts until the end of this year.
  • Make a clear statement that LUL would not agree to detrimental attacks on our pension arising out the current pension review that they are conducting with government.
  • Conduct talks at the level of dispute resolution and suspend consultation on organisational change at functional or local levels. This would allow us to take a holistic view of management’s proposals across the whole of LUL with a view to seeking a negotiated outcome.

Management refused to accept all three of our proposals to allow meaningful negotiation to take place.

Following this meeting the London Mayor has stated in the press that TfL has NEVER said they will not be changing our pension, only that past accruals will not be changed. The Mayor made it quite clear that as a result of the ‘deal’ he made with the government, pension attacks will follow.

Management are proceeding with 600 job cuts on stations. They refuse to go through the normal safety consultations with us on the impact of reducing staffing levels on stations. They refuse to conduct the normal negotiations on the impact of new rosters on our members.

Management has imposed a new framework on our SRT members.

The way that management is seeking to impose cuts on stations is a warning to every function. Trains and engineering functions are now scheduled for organisational change where management will review agreements and working practices.

We cannot allow these attacks on our members to be imposed. We must fight back read more   list of picket lines

RMT suspends rail strikes (4 Nov) – RMT suspends strikes after securing intensive negotiations with rail bosses. Rail union RMT has suspended planned strikes on Nov 5, 7 and 9 and will now enter into a period of intensive negotiations with Network Rail and the train operating companies. Through a strong industrial campaign so far, RMT has secured unconditional talks on Network Rail and the promise of an offer from the train operating companies who up until this point, have made no offer of any kind to our members. Originally  Network Rail had declared discussions and consultations closed and was intent on imposing changes to maintenance without agreement with RMT. They have now rowed back and will continue discussions on the basis that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” This takes away the reason for the current phase of action and means talks can continue without pre-conditions unilaterally set down by the company. The current dispute remains very much live, and the union is continuing its re-ballot of members to secure a fresh mandate for action with the result due on 15th November read more

RMT writes to MPs over ticket offices (4 Nov) – In a joint letter signed by an array of campaign organisations and charities. including Disability Rights UK, Royal National Institute for Deaf People. The Equality Trust and Transport for All, it sets out the case for keeping ticket offices open. The overwhelming majority are set to close, and the union believes this will not only lead to unacceptable job losses but severely disadvantage the disabled vulnerable and elderly. RMT also highlighted the fact Driver Only Operation (DOO) which would mean train guards not being required to be on train services in order to assist passengers, was back on the agenda read more

RMT demands fair pay rise for striking bus workers (3 Nov) – Transport union RMT slammed greedy First South West for not settling the pay dispute with bus workers, ahead of more strikes. Bus workers in Somerset and Cornwall will be out on strike Friday 4 November in a dispute over pay. First South West workers are angry that many of them are only paid just over £11 an hour and that bosses only offered a small uprate to £12 an hour. The union rejected entirely the recent claim by company bosses that they had offered workers a 17.4 percent pay rise over 2 years read more

RMT blames broken privatised rail model for train cancellations (2 Nov) – Rail union RMT attacked train operators and the government for their failure to address systemic problems in the railway network, staff shortages and train cancellations this week. The union put the blame for the recent spate of rail cancellations on relying on staff volunteering for overtime because they have not recruited enough railway workers read more

RMT releases single by music legends Primal Scream and Dexys (1 Nov) – Transport union RMT releases a fundraising single today by music legends Primal Scream and Dexys called Enough is Enough! in support of the union’s fight against low pay, job cuts and attacks on terms and conditions. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, who makes a guest appearance on the track, said that the union was extremely pleased with support from musicians like Kevin Rowland, Sean Read, Bobby Gillespie and former the Jesus and Mary Chain bassist Douglas Hart who has produced a hard-hitting video to go with the song. “As we go into further strike action this Saturday this sort of solidarity, which these talented musicians gave completely free of charge, is an indication of the huge support we are getting from across the country. “All the money from this single will go directly to our dispute fund which we are using as part of our battle for justice in the workplace. It’s time for the government to stop interfering and let us negotiate a settlement with the employers,” he said read more

RMT launches cleaners ballot (28 Oct) – More than 1 in 10 cleaners on the transport network are using food banks, RMT survey finds. The union’s survey of 1,000 contracted out cleaners also found that over a quarter have skipped meals (28%), 1 in 3 are relying on credit cards to pay for cost of living and 84% are struggling to make ends meet. RMT members working for the likes of Churchill, Mitie and other wealthy contractors have had enough and are being balloted for strike action from today. The ballot will close on the Tuesday November 22. Cleaners are demanding £15 an hour, company sick pay, decent holidays and good pensions from contractors – some of whom are raking in profits of over £100 million read more

RMT adds new strike date in national rail dispute (26 Oct) – RMT members working for the train operating companies were already taking strike action on November 5 but now will also walkout on November 9. Network Rail members are already scheduled to strike on 5, 7 and 9 November in the national rail dispute. In a separate set of strikes, TfL and London Overground (Arriva Rail London) will walkout on November 10 read more

RMT update on national rail strike days (25 Oct)

London Underground strike action changed (26 Oct) – Further to my letter dated 19th October, the National Executive Committee has noted that the Royal British Legion are due to hold their annual poppy day fundraiser in London on Thursday 3rd November and taken the decision to suspend the planned strike action for Thursday 3rd November. Instead, ALL LUL MEMBERS ARE TO TAKE STRIKE ACTION by NOT BOOKING ON for any shifts that commence between: 00:01 hours and 23:59 hours on Thursday 10th November 2022. London Underground are continuing their sustained attacks on staff through a program of cuts that includes pension changes, job cuts, and the imposition of new working arrangements. I will also be commencing a re-ballot of all LUL members to make sure that we have a continuous mandate for action and will write again shortly with further details read more

Avanti workers to take two days strike action – Train managers on Avanti West Coast will take strike action on Oct 22 in a row over the imposition of rosters. RMT members will also walkout on Sunday 6 November. Avanti bosses claim that imposing rosters was to prevent cancellations. However, the company is in such dire straits that they have slashed services and left staff with poor morale and feeling neglected. Controversially the stricken company has had its contract renewed on the West Coast mainline despite its appalling track record running the franchise read more

 

ASLEF

Please vote ‘yes’ on your ballot (1 Nov) – from ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan “…We remain in talks but no resolution is on the immediate horizon so we will have to keep fighting and making our point industrially. I have met with the new Transport Secretary and it was cordial but there are no further meetings yet scheduled. Due to the current legislation we have to ballot every six months so some of you will be voting again. Please vote ‘Yes’ for both strike action and action short of a strike. This is important to give the EC the tools it needs as not all companies have the same arrangements. Some of you, because of your anniversary dates, are being balloted for the first time. Please vote…” read more

 

TSSA

RDG talks confirmed (7 Nov) – Following pressure from TSSA, talks with industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) will now take place on Tuesday 8 November. The talks are intended to break the deadlock in the ongoing rail dispute, with RDG representing train operating companies. Talks with Network Rail are at an advanced stage and continue this week. Late on Friday 4 November, TSSA received a letter from the Rail Delivery Group (see below) proposing “a two‐week period of intensive talks commencing from Monday 7th November” with the aim of progressing issues via talks. TSSA has been pushing for dates for talks since August so accepted and as part of the arrangement all TSSA industrial action for the coming fortnight was cancelled. Despite the assurances given on Friday, no invite to the meeting for talks arrived so on Monday morning, TSSA Organising Director Luke Chester and TSSA President Mick Carney visited the RDG headquarters to demand the promised talks read more

TSSA call off strike action for “intensive talks” but condemns “ridiculously late invitation” (4 Nov) – TSSA today announced they were calling off their planned rail strikes on 5, 7, 8 and 9 November after finally receiving an invitation to “intensive talks” from the Rail Delivery Group. The invitation to talks was received by TSSA less than six hours before strike action in Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railways were due to begin and during action being taken by members at West Midlands Trains. TSSA was due to take strike action in five different rail companies on different days over the 5, 7 8 and 9 November read more

TSSA strike action in Avanti and EMR on Saturday (4 Nov) – Rail workers at Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway (EMR) who are members of TSSA rail union will take strike action on Saturday 5 November in an ongoing dispute over job security and pay. Industrial action short of strike will also be taken by TSSA members at rail operator GTR on both 5 and 6 November. The strike action will cover the period from 00:01 to 23:59 on Saturday 5 November and follows strike action at West Midlands Trains which is taking place today (Friday 4 November), with further action being taken by TSSA members in other train operators in the coming days. TSSA members working in a variety of roles including control functions, ticket office and station staff will not attend work, impacting services on those lines. Services across the west coast mainline between London and Birmingham, Manchester, Crewe, Liverpool and Glasgow will be affected by strike action, as will EMR services which connect places including London, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leicester and Derby read more

West Midlands Trains Strike Action Friday 4 November – TSSA members in West Midlands Trains (WMT) will strike tomorrow, Friday 4 November, in their deepening dispute over pay, job security and conditions. The strike action will cover the period from 00:01 to 23:59 on Friday. Members working in a variety of roles including control rooms, ticket office and station staff will not attend work on Friday. WMT covers routes between towns and cities in the West Midlands region including Birmingham, Coventry, Leamington Spa, Telford and Wolverhampton, among others read more

November Picket Line round up – Details of pickets lines will be posted here

TSSA calls off strike dates at Network Rail (1 Nov) Rail union TSSA has called off forthcoming strikes at Network Rail (NR) in order to facilitate the progress of ongoing ‘constructive, intensive and detailed discussions’ aimed at improving the current offer. Strikes were due to take place in the union’s national dispute with NR (General Grades 5-8 and controllers) this coming Saturday (5 November), as well as Monday (7 Nov) and Wednesday (9 Nov), running alongside industrial action short of a strike. The union has now formally withdrawn our notices for all strike action and action short of a strike (ASOS) at NR all of which involves thousands of members read more

TSSA announces more strike action for 9 November (27 Oct) – Rail union TSSA today announced new industrial action in four rail industry companies on Wednesday 9 November in their long-running dispute over jobs, pay and terms & conditions. Thousands of TSSA members will take strike action in Network Rail, Avanti West Coast, Southeastern, and South Western Railway. The announcement comes after TSSA cancelled industrial action on Thursday 3 November in order to support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Day read more

 

Unite

Fawley refinery facing disruption as workers announce cost of living strikes (8 Nov) – Members of Unite, the UK leading union, are set to take substantial strike action at the Fawley oil refinery in Hampshire, later this month, in a dispute over cost of living payments. The dispute involves over 130 Unite members employed on construction engineering maintenance contracts. The workforce are split between three contractors: Altrad, Bilfinger, and Enerveo. The dispute arose due to the rampant inflation rate. The workers, who are employed under the NAECI (National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry) agreement, were seeking to secure the maximum bonus of £2.37 an hour, to offset inflation. The employers, however, refused to pay the bonus. Strike action will take place initially from Monday 21 November until Saturday 26 November with a further strike from Monday 28 November until Saturday 3 December read more

Unite leader Sharon Graham to visit Muller Stonehouse, Gloucestershire picket line on Sat 12 Nov (8 Nov) – Super-rich Muller wants to milk more from workers to boost profits

WHEN: 10:30 hrs Saturday 12 November 2022

WHERE: Muller Severnside, Oldends Lane, Stonehouse, GL10 2DG

Nearly 70 HGV drivers and shunters employed by the German dairy giant and who are responsible for delivering milk products to supermarkets nationwide have been on strike since August. The dispute is over imposed rota changes which destroy workers’ ability to spend time with their families. In contravention of an agreement signed with Unite earlier this year, Muller is trying to impose a five days on two days off rota system. The changes would require all drivers to work at least one day every weekend. The company, which made a £16.5 million profit in 2020 and forecast more in 2021, wants to impose the rota to save money when they contract third party hauliers to deliver products read more

Government in Cammell Laird betrayal over Mersey ferry contract (8 Nov) – Government procurement policies forced local authority’s hand. Unite, the UK’s leading union, has described a decision by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to grant much of the work to build a new Mersey ferry to an overseas shipyard as a complete betrayal of the local Cammell Laird workforce. Unite has learnt that despite the UK leaving the European Union, government rules forced the work to be tendered across Europe. The work to build a brand new ferry has been awarded to the Daman shipyard in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the Cammell Laird shipyard, which is on the Mersey, will only undertake the refurbishment of one of the existing ferries and complete some final work on the new ship. The work has been awarded to Daman despite the Cammell Laird shipyard being able to fully undertake it read more

Housing Executive board inaction in face of withdrawal of private contractors and ongoing housing workers strike is exacerbating social housing crisis (7 Nov) – 4,000 tenants left without needed housing improvements and almost 400 houses left empty as a result. Unite the union welcomes the offer by newly appointed chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive Nicole Lappin to engage directly with the trade union. Ms Lappin spoke to striking workers in Craigavon today. Workers are on the thirteenth week of strike action seeking to win a cost of living pay increase. There is a backlog of almost 4,000 repairs and improvements needed by social housing tenants after eleven private-sector maintenance contractors withdrew from outsourced contracts while contracts delivered in-house by the Housing Executive’s Direct Labour Organisation have been highly impacted by the current strike action. Almost 400 disabled tenants are awaiting needed adaptions and approximately 400 further housing units are unoccupied as the needed ‘change of occupancy’ work has not been conducted. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham pledged national union support in the battle read more

ASDA Christmas strikes avoided as Wincanton drivers secure pay increase (7 Nov) – The prospect of ASDA supermarkets experiencing supply problems this Christmas has been averted following a pay deal for the drivers. Over 80 HGV drivers employed by Wincanton on an outsourced contract and responsible for delivering food to ASDA’s regional distribution centres had begun to ballot for industrial action in a dispute over low pay. However, following the announcement of the ballot, fresh negotiations were held and a vastly improved deal of a 9.5 per cent increase, giving a basic pay rate of £14.97, was accepted by the drivers who are member of Unite, the UK’s leading union read more

Unrealistic workloads force Community support workers in Hounslow to hold strike vote (7 Nov) – Unrealistic workloads force Community support workers in Hounslow to hold strike vote. Workers employed by Hestia, a referral service which provides adult services in Hounslow in London, have begun a ballot for industrial action. A number of workers who are Unite members provide support for people ranging from mental health support, addiction, immigration and language barrier support read more

NHS strike threat grows as Unite announces ballots spread across England and Wales (7 Nov) – Key services at risk, including blood testing, as thousands set to walk out in the new year. The UK’s leading union, Unite, representing some 100,000 NHS workers has announced today (Monday) that it is set to bring thousands more NHS workers into possible strike action. Unite members in the NHS across England and Wales are set to join ambulance service members across Scotland and England in voting for action to raise pay and save crumbling services. According to Unite, members are in despair as a government funding crisis destroys vital services and leaves NHS workers thousands of pounds a year down on pay. Unite’s ambulance members have encountered threats and abuse from patients frustrated at the chronic deterioration in the service. Notices for formal industrial action proceedings will be served across a host of NHS employers covering NHS services. These include nursing, healthcare science, applied psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, dental professions, audiology, optometry, building trades, estates, craft and maintenance, administration, ICT, support services and ambulance services. In Wales, Unite’s ambulance members will also be balloted (Ambulance workers in England have already begun balloting). A vote for strike action will see walk outs in the new year read more

Unite members reject latest NHS Scotland Pay offer (4 Nov) – Unite the union can today (4 November) confirm that NHS members have formally rejected the latest pay offer made by NHS Scotland. Unite members across the NHS including in estates, ambulance service, medical equipment management and theatre roles recorded a 74 per cent vote to reject the offer from the Scottish government. Unite can also confirm that the same members have voted for strike action following the conclusion of the legal industrial action ballot. Unite said that the offer, which was put to members last week, ‘didn’t go far enough’ to reward all workers fairly and was therefore overwhelmingly rejected. Whilst the principle of a flat rate offer was something that Unite considered, further analysis found that some workers would be considerably worse off following the ‘improved’ offer read more

Fox’s biscuit strike suspended following improved pay offer (4 Nov) – A strike by engineers employed at the Fox’s biscuit factory in Batley has been suspended at the eleventh hour. A four day strike was due to begin on Sunday 6 November, however following intensive negotiations today (Friday), at the conciliation service Acas, an improved pay offer was made. Unite regional officer Chris Rawlinson said: “As a result of an improved offer by the employer following Acas talks, Unite has suspended its planned strike action as an act of goodwill in order to ballot its members.” If the workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, reject the offer the second four day strike scheduled to begin on Monday 14 November will go ahead as planned read more

Highland airports face disruption as workers reject’ insulting’ pay offer (4 Nov) – members at Highland airports being balloted for strike action. Unite the Union today (4 November) notified Highland and Islands Airport Limited (HIAL) of their intention to ballot members for industrial action following the rejection of a 5 per cent pay offer. Unite members, who support  travel between some of the most remote islands in Scotland, have advised the company that they see the pay award as ‘insulting’ and well below what they are worth.  Living and working in some of the most remote communities in the country means the impact of the cost of living crisis is particularly acute. Food, petrol and housing costs are higher in rural communities as well as colder weather means higher energy prices impact those that live in rural areas more harshly, with the winter months particularly difficult read more

Hull Stagecoach strikes suspended as workers balloted on new deal (4 Nov) – Bus strikes, by members of Unite, employed at Stagecoach in Hull, will be suspended from Monday (7 November) to allow workers to be balloted on a new pay deal. Following extensive negotiations held today (Friday) a new pay offer was agreed between Stagecoach’s management and Unite. Unite regional coordinating officer Harriet Eisner said: “Following a significantly improved offer from Stagecoach, Unite has suspended strikes in order to ballot its members on the new offer.” If workers reject the deal, then the all-out continuous strike action will resume on Monday 14 November. Approximately 250 bus workers based in Hull are involved in the dispute read more

Tyne and Wear Metro engineering pay strikes to hit rail services (4 Nov) – Stadler engineers for Metro trains strike after firm makes £119m but offers ‘pay cut’. More than 50 Tyne and Wear Metro engineers employed by Stadler Rail Service Ltd will strike in November over a four per cent pay offer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday). With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 12.6 per cent and expected to rise, this is a real terms pay cut. The workers will strike from 14 November until 28 November, with more strikes set to be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved. The workers also began an overtime ban on 15 October. The industrial action will impact services on the Metro, which is the UK’s busiest light rail system outside of London read more

Unite secures another victory for outsourced NHS workers at Barts (4 Nov) – Workers brought onto NHS terms and conditions including a pay increase of up to 17 per. Building on the landmark victory struck at one of the UK’s largest NHS Trusts, Unite has secured an agreement to bring linen and laundry workers at Barts Health NHS Trust onto NHS terms and conditions. Earlier this year, Unite won an agreement to bring 1,800 NHS workers employed by the outsourcer Serco into NHS employment at Barts. The first tranche of workers were transferred to the NHS on 1st November and all porters at the five hospitals will be transferred on 1st February. The remaining workers are due to transfer on 1 May 2023. Now workers employed by the private provider Synergy are being transferred onto Agenda for Change NHS terms and conditions from the 1 May 2023. The workers have also elected five union reps across the five hospitals which make up the Trust read more

World Cup travellers facing Heathrow flight woe as workers strike over pay (4 Nov) – Workers employed by Dnata and Menzies at Heathrow will take three days of strike action beginning on Friday 18 November, in a dispute over pay. The strike action will begin in the early hours of Friday 18 November and it will be completed in the early hours of Monday 21 November. It will lead to disruption, cancellations and delays at Heathrow terminals 2, 3 and 4. The strike action will particularly affect Qatar Airways, which has scheduled an additional 10 flights a week during the World Cup. The strike action involves 700 workers employed by Dnata and Menzies. The workforce carry out a wide variety of roles, including ground-handling, airside transport and cargo read more

Strikes at Coop Funeralcare continue as talks at ACAS breakdown (4 Nov) – Disruption at coffin manufacturer set to last throughout winter. Unite can confirm today (4 November) that further strike action will take place at Coop Funeralcare in Govan, from Monday 14 November concluding at 07.54 on Monday 21 November after talks at ACAS to resolve the current Coop coffin factory dispute failed. The meeting broke up without agreement and with no further talks planned continued disruption is certain. Additional strike dates following this action will also be confirmed at a later date. Unite has stated that unless there is a resolution, this action will create the potential for disruption into the new year read more

Unite secures UK Princes food workers’ pay rise worth 11.5 per cent (4 Nov) – Around 700 workers at sites in Glasgow, Bradford, Cardiff and Long Sutton to benefit. Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a pay rise worth 11.5 per cent for around 700 Princes Group food workers. The workers at four sites, located in Glasgow, Bradford, Cardiff and Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, will receive a seven per cent pay rise backdated to April 2022 plus a £750 one off payment. The deal was negotiated without the need for industrial action. In total the pay rise is worth 11 per cent and the company has also agreed to commence 2023’s pay talks in January as well as to establish a national staff forum for future negotiations read more

DEMONSTRATION to demand action following death of Ryanair colleague and Unite rep, Cinzia Ceravolo (3 Nov) – John Lennon Airport workers say no more delay, make Hale Road safe.

Where: Grass island between Hale Drive and Hale Road, Liverpool, L24 0TQ; When: 13:00 hours, Tuesday 8 November 2022

Workers from Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport will join a demonstration on Tuesday (8 November) held in honour of their colleague, Cinzia Ceravolo, who was killed crossing the city’s treacherous Hale Road in August this year. Flowers will be laid in Cinzia’s memory by the workers, members of Unite, who have been campaigning for urgent safety changes to be made at the highway. Unite’s members will be joined at the protest by GMB members from the airport. The workers are angry that despite repeated tragedies, no action has been taken to make the junction safe. Hundreds of local residents have joined Unite’s call to the Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, signing an open letter urging her to use the city’s stake in the airport to demand that a safe crossing point is created at Hale Road. Unite is also calling for the pick-up and drop-off charges at the airport to be dropped. The costs take a hefty chunk out of workers’ wages, forcing them to find cheaper ways to and from work, inevitably using Hale Road read more

Unite members at University of Dundee take pension fight to Holyrood (3 Nov) – Delegation of University workers to meet with MSPs to gather support in dispute over pensions. Unite can confirm that they will today (3 November) take a delegation of workers to the Scottish Parliament to meet with a cross party group of MSPs to gain support in their long running pensions dispute with the University of Dundee. The dispute stems from the University’s decision in March 2021 to propose the closure of the Defined Benefits Scheme and replace it with a Defined Contribution Scheme resulting in the lowest paid workers losing up to 50 per cent of their pension. The dispute goes back to October 2021 when Unite Members took part in 11 days of strike action resulting in the University withdrawing the proposals and talks re-opened. However the ‘new’ proposals still meant that some workers’ pensions would drop from £20,100 to £14,400 per annum. Despite continued support from Councillors and MSP’s and submissions by Unite, University Court has decided it will impose the new proposals from January 2023.  Following this announcement Unite members have held continuous strike action since 25 August 2022. Each Member of the University’s Executive Group receives more in pension contributions than most of the lowest paid full time staff get paid as their total salary each year and receive salaries ranging from £120,000 per annum up to £250,000 per annum read more

Notice of action served on Petrofac in ongoing contract dispute (2 Nov) – Unite offshore workers set for strike as dispute escalates. Unite the union today (2 November) confirmed that it has served notice on Petrofac for members on the Repsol assets. The industrial action will start on 16 November with a continuous overtime ban and 48 hour stoppage taking place on 16 and 17 November. A further 48 hour stoppage will take place on 30 November and 1 December. Any action will have a significant impact on the maintenance and safe running of the platforms/terminal. Around 146 members are involved in this dispute which centres on the removal of a 10 per cent Equal Time payment, an additional 3 per cent increase on top to cover years of below inflationary increases, payment for OEUK medicals, increase in mileage payments and stand in duties payment read more

Stagecoach London bus workers secure 10% pay increase (2 Nov) – Over 900 bus drivers employed by the Stagecoach group in East London have secured a 10 per cent pay increase, following the threat of strike action. The drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, were originally offered a six per cent pay increase with a further two per cent to be paid at a later date. However, once Unite notified the company that it was preparing to ballot its members for industrial action, further negotiations were held and an improved offer of 10 per cent fully backdated to April 2022 was offered. Unite’s members were then balloted on the offer, which was accepted read more

World Cup beer strikes off after Unite secures up to 12.5% pay deal (1 Nov) – Strike action by 1,000 draymen employed by multinational giant GXO has been cancelled after the workers accepted a much-improved offer from the company. The workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the one-year deal, which will see them receive pay rises of between 9.5 and 12.5 per cent. The company’s previous offer was just five per cent read more

Unite secures £138k in withheld tips for Cameron House workers (1 Nov) – Low paid workers at luxury Scots hotel will also receive £70k of tips a month in future. A campaign by members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, has resulted in a luxury Scottish hotel handing back almost £140,000 in withheld tips to around 200 low paid staff. Cameron House has agreed to hand back the huge sum, made up of deducted service charges withheld since January this year. From now on, all service charges and card tips, worth around £70,000 a month, will be shared fairly amongst staff. The win follows months of lobbying by Unite after the hotel introduced an opaque 10 per cent service charge at the beginning of the year. It was subsequently revealed that the hotel had retained 15 per cent – totalling £138,000 – of all the service changes it received since January read more

Workers and communities face calamity while BP feasts on unfettered profits (1 Nov) – Workers and communities face calamity while BP feasts on unfettered profits. Labour movement must make the argument for public ownership. BP has reported enormous profits of £7.1 billion for July to September, more than double the profit over the same three months last year. The cumulative takings for the seven biggest private sector oil drillers during the first nine months of 2022 could hit £150bn, according to analysts. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers and communities face financial calamity this winter while energy giants like BP are making billions in unfettered profits. It’s clear our economy is broken. “Unite’s independent profiteering report has established that it is corporate greed and profiteering which is driving inflation not workers’ wages. It’s time to stop tinkering at the edges. The Labour movement must seize the moment, take control of the debate and make the undeniable call to bring the energy giants into public ownership.” Read more

Unite to ballot workers at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermarston and Burghfield for strike action over pay cut (31 Oct) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, will ballot its members at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermarston and Burghfield in Berkshire for industrial action in a dispute over pay. The dispute is a result of the AWE’s management only offering the workers a five per cent pay increase and a bonus scheme. This is in reality a considerable real terms pay cut with the inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 12.6 per cent. Unite will begin balloting its 900 members at the AWE sites for strike action on Friday 4 November with the ballot closing on Friday 2 December. If members vote for strike action then industrial action could begin before Christmas. The workers at Aldermarston and Burghfield are involved in the production of the Trident programme read more

South West London geared for winter bus chaos following sacking of Unite steward at London United (28 Oct) – South West London is facing major disruption to its bus services this winter as members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed at London United, will be balloted for industrial action, following the company’s dismissal of a local shop steward. The dispute involves 330 bus drivers based at the company’s Fulwell depot in Twickenham. The dispute arose after the depot’s shop steward was dismissed following the successful pay strikes at the company this summer. The industrial action ballot will open on Monday 7 November and closes on Monday 5 December, if the drivers vote for industrial action, then strike action could occur throughout the winter. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will never allow its workplace representatives to be victimised and the union will use all its collective strength to right this wrong. An injury to one is an injury to all. “London United must accept our member should never have been dismissed and reinstate him immediately.” London United is a subsidiary of the French state owned transport company RATP. Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “This is trade union victimisation – clear and simple. Our members took strike action and won. Now the employer, in an act of spite, has decided to attack union organisation by attacking our rep…” read more

Southampton Airport faces shutdown as workers prepare to strike after three year pay freeze (26 Oct) – Southampton Airport faces shutdown as workers prepare to strike after three year pay freeze. No pay increase since 2019. The workers made huge sacrifices during the pandemic to keep the airport safe. Workers at Southampton Airport who haven’t had a pay increase since 2019 will take a series of one day strikes beginning on 5 November after months of unacceptable delays by airport bosses. Airside operations controllers, firefighters, technicians and engineering workers will take 1 day of strike action on Saturday 5 November, Saturday 12 November and Saturday 19 November read more

Strike action begins at Renold Couplings (25 Oct) – Workers employed by Renold Couplings in East Cardiff have today commenced four weeks of continuous strike action over pay. In a recent ballot Unite members at the site in East Cardiff, voted by over 91% in favour of industrial action. Renold Couplings, who manufacture power transmission products, have offered workers a pay offer well below inflation. This is despite the fact that workers endured a pay freeze during the Covid pandemic read more

Pickle and vinegar shortages growing as Mizkan Rochdale workers announce fresh strikes over real terms pay cut (25 Oct) – Shortages of the UK’s most popular pickles and vinegars, including Branston Pickle, Sarsons Vinegar and Haywards Pickled Vegetables, will increase as Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced further strike action as a result of the employer’s (Mizkan Euro) derisory pay offer. The 50-plus workers, who are based at Mizkan Euro’s factory in Rochdale, will take fresh strike action for three days beginning on Wednesday 3 November and ending on Saturday 5 November. The workers took three days of strike action earlier this month (18-20 October) in response to the company offering the workers an increase of just five per cent, which is in reality a pay cut, with the actual inflation rate (RPI) now standing at 12.6 per cent read more

TfL prolonging Woolwich Ferry dispute by using agency staff (25 Oct) – Unite raises safety concerns over poorly trained agency workers. TfL delays preventing the suspension of strike action. Unite has written to London Assembly members to raise concerns about the use of poorly trained agency workers being used to run a limited service during the Woolwich Ferry strike. The union has called on GLA members to give an assurance that the agency staffing arrangements along with the condition of the boats give no cause for concern as far as safety is concerned. The strike began on Monday 24 October and ends on Friday 28 October.  87% of the workers who took part in the ballot voted for strike action. Unite is meeting TfL on Monday 31 October read more

New Covent Garden Market facing week long “turmoil” as OCS security guards strike over poverty pay rates (25 Oct) – New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms London is facing a week of turmoil as its security guards, employed by outsourcers OCS Group UK Ltd, take a week of strike action, after the company refused to even enter into formal pay talks. The security guards, who also act as the first aiders at the fruit, vegetable and flower market, are paid just £9.69 an hour. The workers are seeking to be paid at least the London Living Wage which now stands at £11.95 an hour. Strike action will begin on Thursday 27 October and last for a week. New Convent Garden Market is operated by the Covent Market Garden Authority (CMGA), a statutory corporation that reports to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) read more

Liverpool Dock Strike: Peel Ports continue to refuse to pay a decent pay rise despite huge profits (21 Oct) – Two week pay strike from Monday to go ahead after talks end in chaos. Peel Ports’ board continues to refuse to give workers a decent pay rise whilst profits soar. The union has in good faith been at the negotiating table with management to thrash out a deal: A deal the company has now reneged on. It was believed the deal would be accepted by the workforce. However, any chance to halt the industrial action has been lost after Peel Ports’ board intervened to stop the deal, which had been agreed in principle, from going ahead read more

Walsall Housing Group workers to strike over imposed pay cut (19 Oct) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are stepping up strike action this week after their employer Walsall Housing Group imposed a real-terms pay cut on the workers. The company has imposed a 3.1 per cent increase and an additional £300 one-off payment on the workers, far below the current real inflation rate (RPI) of 12.3 per cent. The Walsall Housing Group workers play an essential role in keeping tenants’ homes safe and repaired. Over 40 members of Unite at Walsall Housing Group will take 12 days of strike action over the coming weeks on October 21, 24, 28 and 31 and then on 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 and 28 November read more

Quorn strikes go all-out over super-profitable firm’s ‘derisory’ pay offer – Company’s efforts to undermine strike causing chaos and raises safety fears. More than 60 workers at Quorn’s meat-free paste production factory will begin all-out strike action this Thursday (20 October) in a dispute over a ‘derisory’ pay offer. The workers, members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have already taken nine days of strike action in October over a four per cent pay offer plus a one-off payment. The workers are seeking a nine per cent pay rise, which was the RPI inflation rate in April when negotiations began. The strikes are expected to lead to shortages of Quorn products in supermarkets read more

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and M&S hit by poverty pay strikes at Lincolnshire food manufacturer – Bakkavor food manufacturer made £100 million profits but minimum wage workers offered pay cut. More than 700 workers at Bakkavor’s food manufacturing factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire, will strike over poverty pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday). The production line operatives, who make own brand soups, sauces and deli produce for major supermarkets, will strike from 1 November to 9 November. More strikes will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved read more

West Midlands Metro strike goes ahead as Unite members vow to defeat pay pittance – Extensive strike action affecting the West Midland Metro will begin tomorrow (Saturday 15 October), in a dispute over rates of pay described as a ‘pittance’. Fifty-three days of strike action will get underway following the employer’s failure to improve its pay offer or to propose fresh negotiations. The dispute involves over 174 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by West Midlands Metro, who are seeking a major improvement on their pay. For some it is the lowest rate of pay in the country for the roles they undertake. Saturday is the first of 53 days of strike action, which has been scheduled to continue until Saturday 5 January 2023 read more

Derby Alstom pay cut strikes to impact East Midlands Rail maintenance – Alstom profits at £233m but workers offered just four per cent. More than 70 highly skilled workers who maintain the rolling stock at Alstom’s Derby site will strike over pay on 27 October and 29 October. If the dispute is not resolved more strikes will be scheduled. The workers will also begin industrial action comprising of a work to rule and an overtime ban on 19 October over the four per cent pay offer, well below the RPI rate of inflation of 12.3 per cent. French-based Alstom’s latest financial report shows it made sales of £13.6 billion in 2021/22 and net profits of £233 million read more

Arrow home deliveries facing strikes until Christmas over ‘dismal’ pay offer – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Arrow XL, will begin strike action later this month in a dispute over pay. Unite represents 350 workers who undertake two-person deliveries for major retailers including Amazon, Very Group, LG Electronics, Richer Sounds and Buy it Direct read more

Arriva drivers in Northumberland to strike over threatened closure of Jesmond depot – Bus drivers employed by Arriva will begin strike action later this month in opposition to the company’s plans to close its Jesmond depot. The strike will involve over 100 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union.  Beginning on Thursday 21 October, it will be an all-out (continuous) strike. The drivers recorded a 97 per cent vote in favour of industrial action. The Jesmond depot is due to close on Monday 31 October. The closure threatens jobs and will result in a poorer bus service throughout Newcastle and Northumberland. The company has failed to adequately consult Unite over its plans read more

Felixstowe dock workers return to picket lines – Workers at the UK’s largest container port at Felixstowe will renew strike action tomorrow (Tuesday 27 September) in an ongoing dispute over pay. Over 1,900 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, will begin strike action at 07:00 on Tuesday 27 September with the eight day strike ending on 06:59 on Wednesday 5 October. Strike action is resuming after the company refused to return to negotiations following the initial eight days strike action in August. Instead the company imposed a seven per cent increase on the workforce. This amounted to a real terms pay cut with the real inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 12.3 per cent. The workers rejected the imposed pay offer by 82 per cent on 78 per cent turnout read more

Honeywell workforce set for strike action – Workers reject ‘pitiful’ pay offer at Edinburgh aerospace company. Members of Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, employed at aerospace company Honeywell, will begin strike action tomorrow (8 September) in a dispute over pay. Around Unite 20 members including production and assembly workers recorded a 78.6 per cent vote in favour of strike action on a 77.8 per cent turnout at Honeywell. The first day of strike action (8 September) will be followed every Thursday for the next twelve weeks. The company, which specialises in the design and manufacturing of electronic hardware and systems, has proposed a multi-year deal of 2.75 per cent for this year and next year then followed by 0 per cent in 2024. This offer has been resoundingly rejected by the workers read more

Workers at Causeway Coast and Glens council to commence all-out strike action tomorrow after councils vote down pay increase – Offer of two pay points plus a cash lump sum to end dispute was rejected at last night’s council meeting by a single vote in the chamber. Unite the union has confirmed that its members at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will commence continuous strike action at the local authority tomorrow (8 Sept). The decision by workers followed last night’s vote at full council at which a proposal to settle the strike by offering two pay point increments and a lump sum to workers – similar to that provided in Derry City & Strabane and in Mid-Ulster District Councils – was voted down by a majority of one councillor. General Secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, pledged her union’s full support to the striking council workers read more

Striking Tipton CabAuto workers reveal shocking levels of in-work poverty – Workers in McLaren, Aston Martin, JLR and Bentley supply chains ‘terrified of winter bills’. Striking Cab Auto worker – “How can it be that I work for a company that makes millions in profits, yet I have to use a begging bowl at food banks?” More than 100 West Midlands workers, paid just £9.90 an hour, are taking renewed strike action, which began on 23 August and will finish on 16 September, over a three per cent pay offer. The real rate of inflation, RPI, is running at 12.3 per cent and is expected to climb even higher. The workers, who make luxury car interiors but do not receive company sick pay or shift pay, have taken 26 days of strike action since 28 June read more

Real terms pay cut forces strike by Hartlepool chemical workers at Venator – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed at chemical company Venator Materials Ltd, will begin strike action this week in a dispute over pay. The company, which produces pigments and additives, has only offered the workers a five per cent pay increase – far below the rate of inflation. The 100 plus members of Unite at the company recorded an 81 per cent vote in favour of strike action on an 84 per cent turnout… The workers will take a total of 10 days of strike action (see note to editors for details) this month in the dispute. The first four day strike will begin on Thursday 1 September at 18:59 and will initially involve the night shift read more

North Sea strike to hit Foinaven vessel – 96% vote for strike action over inferior redundancy package. Unite the union today (25 July) confirmed that its members operating the Foinaven Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) have voted to take strike action. 96 per cent voted for strike action on an 84 per cent turnout. Continuous strike action is now scheduled to take place from 5 August. The dispute centres on offshore members being given a significantly inferior redundancy package compared with Altera’s onshore workforce.  The Foinaven field is situated approximately 120 miles west of the Shetland Isles within the Faroes/Shetland Trough. Production from the field was suspended in 2021 read more

Bosch Rexroth workers to strike in dispute over pay and shift changes – Unite slams global giant’s plans that leave Scottish workers £7000 a year worse off. Unite has today (Monday 4 July) confirmed that members working at Bosch Rexroth Glenrothes, will walk out over a pay proposal that will leave workers £7000 a year worse off. The German-owned global tech and engineering giant has proposed a six per cent pay deal, which Unite says is a significant pay cut given that real inflation currently stands at 11.7 per cent. The employers are also refusing to back-date the pay award to 1 January or to reverse changes to shift patterns and shift allowances, which means the combined impact of the offer is to leave workers around £7,000 per year worse off. Workers at the site have rejected the company’s proposal by 74 per cent. Unite says that the Bosch Rexroth, a subsidiary of Bosch, is in a strong financial position and has no need to attack the workers’ pay and conditions.  In its 2021 annual report, Bosch Rexroth boasted of `reaching a new high on incoming orders’ which have generated sales of £5.4 billion (6.2 billion euros), up by nearly one fifth on the year before. The union’s members, 245 workers, will take continuous strike action from Tuesday 5 July until Tuesday 12 July inclusive. Thereafter they will strike every Monday and Tuesday going forward with an ongoing ban on overtime throughout read more

 

CWU

Support the CWU strikes in Royal Mail, BT/Openreach & Post Office – the union has called two further national 48-hour strikes in Royal Mail: 24-25 November and 30 November-1 December.

The CWU has launched a strike fund – please support: Unity Bank, CWU General Fund, 60-83-01 33019822

We support the call of the CWU for Royal Mail and BT to be re-nationalised. Follow the latest news via CWU’s Facebook page, website and Twitter @CWUnews

 

PCS

Industrial action ballot is now closed – join our Facebook live on ThursdayOur ballot for strike action in the UK civil service and related areas has now closed. We would like to thank all members who voted and all reps for their hard work in getting the vote out. The votes are being counted by the independent scrutineers and the results will be published on our website, sent via email to all members and to the individual employers by lunchtime on Thursday (10). The web page will show the results for each of the 214 employers in the ballot. Our national executive committee will meet on Thursday to consider next steps in the campaign following the ballot. Tune into a Facebook live event at 12.30pm on Thursday, which will be broadcast on our national Facebook page, to hear the result. If you like our page the event should start automatically in the news feed on your page. The event will be hosted by our national president Fran Heathcote and the speaker will be our general secretary Mark Serwotka. Send your questions in advance to [email protected]

PCS joins legal action against Home Secretary over Manston (5 Nov) – PCS is to launch legal action against home secretary Suella Braverman over the “horrendous, inhumane and dangerous” conditions at Manston House asylum centre. The UK’s largest union for civil servants is joining Detention Action in taking legal action on behalf of its Home Office members working at Manston House, including Border Force officials and enforcement staff, as well as case workers tasked with making detention decisions around the UK read more

PCS members at BEIS announce five-day strike (4 Nov) – PCS members working at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have announced five days’ strike action in disputes over pay and health and safety. Caterers employed by Aramark and cleaners, security guards, reception workers, post and porterage staff employed by ISS will take action at BEIS headquarters in Victoria Street, London on 16, 23 and 30 November, and 7 and 14 December. The Aramark employees run the canteen for BEIS staff, as well as providing food for trade delegations. They voted 100% ‘Yes’ for strike action on a 75% turnout after pay talks stalled over a period of months. PCS is urging BEIS, which holds the contract, to allow wages to increase read more

Dispute Resolution Process (DRP) invoked over Magistrates Training Review (31 Oct) – PCS has advised HMCTS and the Judicial College (JC) that we are invoking the DRP following significant consultation failures over the transfer of responsibility for Magistrates’ Training to the Judicial College read more

Strike action continues in Magistrates Courts (28 Oct) – Legal advisors and court associates are nearing the end of their nine days of strike action in the dispute over the Common Platform computer system. The strike in HMCTS has been very successful with PCS members in over 65 magistrates courts across the country taking action against the Common Platform system. This week has seen three successful picket lines in Manchester, Peterborough, and Luton where the pickets received support from other PCS members who were not called to take strike action. There has been disruption all over England and Wales with cases adjourned and courts cancelled, often at the last minute. On one strike day in Manchester only four courts sat, 70 people were in custody, 20 cases were postponed and the court set an 11am arrival cut-off point for prisoners. Our online strike demo on 26 October was well attended and supported and provided an opportunity to hear from PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka and group assistant secretary and national executive member Karen Watts and there were plenty of messages of support from MPs and other unions. The strike has also had significant media coverage. After this round of strike action ends on 30 October, PCS will expect to get back around the table quickly with HMCTS and work to resolve the dispute. We have a mandate to take further action and reserve the right to call more strike action if necessary. Send solidarity messages to [email protected]. Donate to our fighting fund: PCS Fighting Fund Levy Account, sort code: 60-83-01, account no: 20331490, quoting transaction ref: MOJ CP Strike Donation read more

Support striking workers at HGS in Liverpool (25 Oct) – PCS members working for Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS) on the Disclosure and Barring Service contract in Liverpool are on their second week of their current period of strike action. The strike began on 17 October and will end on 29 October. The low paid workers also took 12 days of strike action during August and September in the dispute over pay and terms and conditions. The north west TUC has set up a fundraiser to help keep spirits up on the picket line by buying a hot drink for any striker who wants one.  You can donate as much as you can afford online. Any surplus money will be used to offer the same service to strikers from other affiliated unions read more   Sign petition to support striking workers at Hinduja Global Solutions

 

GMB

Black Friday shortages loom as Amazon packing company votes to strike (7 Nov) – Amazon faces Black Friday shortages as workers at a packaging firm vote for strike action. Almost 1,000 GMB members at DS Smith, who also make corrugated packaging for Chivas, Princes and Seabrooks crisps, are balloting for industrial action over a real terms pay cut. In total 93 per cent of the GMB Members at the company, which count Brewdog, PepsiCo, Princes and KP snacks among its clients, voted in favour of industrial action. Workers in five sites – Louth, Lincolnshire, Featherstone, in Yorkshire, Clay Cross, in Derbyshire, Devizes, in Wiltshire and Livingston, in Scotland could take part in the strike, as early as the end of the month. DS Smith has tabled an offer of a 3 per cent consolidated increase plus a non-consolidated payment of £760 for 2022-23 which, with inflation at 12.3 per cent, represents a massive real terms pay cut for members who worked throughout the pandemic read more

Petrol shortage on the cards as oil refinery faces strike action (7 Nov) – GMB, the union at Fawley Oil Refinery near Southampton, have issued strike notice to various employers whose workers are based at the site. Initial strike action will begin on 21 November and will last until 2 December. The dispute revolves around an Incentive Bonus Arrangement (IBA) which has been previously paid to workers but has been refused read more

Doncaster Sheffield Airport sale still ‘live’ (4 Nov) – The sale of Doncaster Sheffield Airport is still live, says GMB Union. Representatives from the airport’s owners, The Peel Group today confirmed to the union negotiations with investors are ongoing, with due diligence being done in both sides read more

Tens of thousands of Asda workers to be balloted in pay dispute (3 Nov) – GMB Union begins a ballot of tens of thousands of Asda workers today [4 November] in a dispute over pay. Asda is once again the worst paying of the ‘big four’ supermarkets after the other retailers recently gave staff increased pay rises to help with the cost of living crisis. But despite repeated calls from GMB, Asda bosses refuse to increase retail workers basic pay of £10.10 per hour in line with the other ‘big four’. GMB is asking whether members are happy to accept what is essentially a zero per cent pay offer. The ballot closes on 4th December. Struggling Asda workers are incensed the Issa Brothers – owners of the EG group which acquired Asda in a highly leveraged buyout in 2021 – reportedly borrowed tens of millions of euros interest-free from their company to buy two private jets read more

Three week Waverley bin strike starts today (3 Nov) – GMB, the union for refuse workers, have announced that their members working in refuse within the borough of Waverley will be taking three weeks of strike action, starting this morning [3 November]. The members, employed by the council’s waste contractor Biffa, rejected a pay deal this morning and immediately commenced the first day of picketing. The dispute centres around pay, with members unhappy with the pay offer their employer has made, which falls well below the current rate of inflation read more

Apple Workers make history as first in UK to secure union recognition (2 Nov) – Apple retail workers in Glasgow have today [Wednesday 2 November] made history by becoming the first store to win trade union recognition. Workers will celebrate their success with a rally and photo call outside the Buchanan Street store this evening at 19.00 hours, having secured a clear majority of two-thirds support for recognition following a statutory ACAS ballot read more

Sunderland bus drivers announce Christmas strike dates (1 Nov) – Sunderland’s bus drivers have announced Christmas strike dates in an ongoing dispute over ‘poverty’ pay. Stagecoach bus services across Sunderland will grind to a halt on 10 days across November and December, as follows: 5 November, 15 – 19 November, 23 – 24 December, 26- 27 December. Sunderland bus drivers have already taken six strike days in anger at a massive real terms pay cut of just 4 per cent, with 2 per cent to follow later in the year. The boss of Stagecoach trousered a package worth more than £1.7 million in the financial year ending April 2022, while the regional bus services made an operating profit of £58 million in the same period read more

Oil refinery workers poised to take strike action (1 Nov) – GMB union members working at the UK’s largest integrated petrochemical refinery site are set to take strike action over pay. Mechanical contractors employed at ExxonMobil’s Fawley Refinery in Southampton are refusing to pay an incentive bonus arrangement [IBA] to workers and the union are balloting their members for strike action. The affected members carry out a range of skilled roles which are needed to ensure refinery processes and site safety. The result of the ballot will be known this week with any strike action to take place over the coming weeks read more

NHS staff back strikes in Scotland’s ambulance services and biggest health boards (1 Nov) – GMB Scotland members across the Scottish Ambulance Service and in Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board have today (Tuesday 1 November) overwhelmingly supported and secured statutory mandates for strikes in their fight to secure an improved pay offer. It follows a month-long ballot of the union’s 8,000 members across NHS Scotland and associated services as the dispute between staff unions and the Scottish Government over the 2022/23 pay offer continues without resolution. 89 per cent of GMB members in the ambulance service who participated in the ballot backed strikes, along with 98 per cent of members in Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board, 97 per cent in Lanarkshire, 94 per cent in Forth Valley, and 88 percent in Lothian (see Notes to Editors for all services with statutory strike mandates). It means that nearly 4,000 GMB members, including paramedics, technicians, nurses, porters, domestics, and radiographers, across eligible health boards and services have a legal mandate to participate in strike action read more

Strike action to hit oil terminal (26 Oct) – GMB members at oil logistics contractor Briggs Marine will begin strike action on Friday [28 October]. Workers voted overwhelmingly for industrial action at the oil logistics firm in Immingham, near Grimsby, after rejecting the company’s below inflation pay offer. Briggs Marine is one of the largest oil logistics companies in the UK, unloading fuel from all over the world and distributing for use across the UK. The strike is expected to have a significant impact on operations at the terminal read more

Christmas beer drought fears as Budweiser workers strike (18 Oct) – Hundreds of Budweiser workers are on strike again after talks collapsed. Staff at the beer giant’s Salmesbury site will now strike until 7am 22 October in anger at a real terms pay cut. Workers at the plant brew Budweiser, Stella Artois, Becks, Boddingtons and Export Pale Ale. Meetings between GMB, the company and conciliation service ACAS collapsed last week after bosses only upped their offer by £250 for 2023 read more

Polyflor profits hit £52 million as struggling workers strike (5 Oct) – Flooring company Polyflor has seen profits rise to more than £52 million while hard up workers take strike action to make ends meet, says GMB Union. James Holstead –  Polyflor’s parent company – posted a 9.6 per cent rise in revenue year-on-year to £291.9 million for the year that ended June 30. Pre-tax profit increased 1.6 per cent £52.1 million. Almost 200 workers at the firm are in midst of three weeks’ solid strike action until 14 October. Pickets will be staged from 8 to 10am and 4 to 6pm, Monday to Friday outside the factory on Radcliffe New Road, M45. Workers voted to strike over a pay dispute. Shortly after they received a message from the company saying ‘process shifts for process workers are to be suspended…please do not turn up for your shift(s) from 6am on Thursday 1st September’ read more

Walsall Housing Group strike extends into October – Industrial action at Walsall Housing Group will extend into next month, GMB Union has said. Almost 200 GMB members will walk out for six days in October 12, 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28. The industrial action comes on top of strike dates in September. Staff are angry after being offered just a 3.1 per cent day deal, amounting to massive real terms pay cut with RPI inflation at 12.3 per cent. Meanwhile Walsall Housing Group’s highest paid director was handed a 14 per cent pay rise between 2020 and 2021 read more

Amazon workers begin first ever UK strike ballot – Amazon workers at a Coventry warehouse will become the first in the UK to take part in a formal strike ballot. Hundreds of workers will today begin voting on whether to walk out in anger over the company’s 35 pence per hour pay offer. The ballot closes on 19 October, with any industrial action likely to take place in November. Amazon workers across the UK have staged informal protests in anger at a three per cent pay offer from the company. Last September, Amazon reported paying £492m in tax the previous year – despite UK revenue soaring to £20.6billion in the pandemic read more

Solidarity with GMB after yet another arrest on a bin picket line – For the second time in months, GMB Southern Region officers have been arrested on a picket line of their striking refuse members. Previously, arrests were made on the Wealden picket. They appeared at Hastings Magistrates Court on 29th June. The case was adjourned to Brighton Crown Court on November 16th. Then two weeks ago, further arrests were made on the Surrey bin picket line. This is outrageous attacks on the right of trade unions to strike, picket and protest. The NSSN sends our continued solidarity and support read more about Surry strike

Sign petition – To St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Mitie out: Demand fair pay and conditions for staff at St George’s Hospital

 

Unison

Barnet Strikers dispute is over (4 Nov) – following talks with ACAS, Unison and Barnet Homes, an agreement has been reached on the terms of the dispute read more

Vote yes for the NHS: UNISON urges backing for strike action (1 Nov) – UNISON recommends members vote ‘yes’ for strike action in order to fight for a better pay deal and to help the NHS recruit and retain staff. Some 350,000 NHS employees working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being asked to vote on strike action over pay this winter read more

Council workers accept deal that will give lowest-paid 10.5% (1 Nov) – Members accept highest pay award offered to local government staff in over a decade. Local government trade unions today accepted a pay offer that will see hundreds of thousands of workers, over 350,000 of whom are UNISON members, paid an extra £1,925 this year, equating to a 10.5% increase for the lowest-paid workers read more

Mileage rate rise needed urgently for public sector staff (1 Nov) – Workers cannot go on subsidising employers while driving for work. The government must act to raise mileage rates for all frontline public service staff who can’t do their jobs without vehicles, but are struggling with fuel costs, says UNISON today (Tuesday). HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has not increased the allowance in a decade. Workers affected include midwives attending home births, district nurses, social workers and pest control officers read more

Working a day every week for free at the Environment Agency (21 Oct) – UNISON members at the agency have seen pay fall since 2011, but now these vital workers are balloting for industrial action – and three explain why they’re voting ‘yes’ read more

Stop Hackney Council cutting library services read more about the campaign here. Lobby of full council meeting at Hackney Town Hall – 6pm Wednesday 23rd November

Workers at Leeds Beckett University begin strike over pay, says UNISON – Low pay has been a massive, and growing, problem in the university sector for a decade and more. Low-paid employees at Leeds Beckett University will walk out today (4 Oct) in a row about pay, says UNISON. The workers – including those in administrative, cleaning, library, security and catering services – will continue their strike tomorrow and Thursday after rejecting a 3% pay award from the University and Colleges Employers Association. UNISON had called for an increase of 2% above the rate of inflation, currently running at 9.9%. With further rises in the cost of living expected, the award effectively amounts to a pay cut, the union says read more

University staff to strike over pay as new term begins – Workers have reached breaking point and have little choice but to strike. Thousands of university staff including administrators, cleaners, library, security and catering employees are to walk out in a wave of strikes that will hit universities from today (Tuesday), says UNISON. Universities will be disrupted across England and Scotland as employees push for a fair pay rise that takes account of soaring cost of living pressures and years of below-inflation awards, says the union. The workers, among the lowest paid in the higher education sector, took the difficult decision to strike after rejecting a 3% pay award from the University and Colleges Employers Association in May, the union says. Staff are asking for a wage increase of 2% above inflation, the lowest measure for which is currently 9.8% read more for details of picket lines

Care staff announce new strike dates over pay, says UNISON – Workers at St Monica Trust plan 48-hour walkout and two-day strike in August. Care workers, registered nurses and residential home staff employed by Bristol-based St Monica Trust will take further strike action next week, said UNISON. Staff at the Russets and Sherwood care home in Sandford, North Somerset, will walk out for 48 hours from 7am on Tuesday 16 August, while workers at Cote Lane in Bristol will launch a two-day strike from Friday 19 August. The new dates follow five days of action in June and July over fire and rehire threats and cuts to pay read more

There is a strike fund which is being collected for. Many of these workers are low paid and part time. With cost of living ever rising it’s essential that we can ensure no one feels like they can’t stand up with their colleagues and strike for fear of lost pay. The union will be paying strike pay and members can request hardship payments up to their full wages so no one gets left behind.

For donations please send to the following details with the reference “SMT”

Account name: UNISON South West; Account number: 49021079; Sort Code: 60-83-01

 

NIPSA

NJC Pay Award 2022/23 (Revised Payscales) (2 Nov) – NIPSA has received notification that the NJC Joint Secretaries have agreed the pay award for 2022/23. It also includes additional elements relating to annual leave/statutory allowances which will be subject to discussions on implementation with the Education Authority read more

NIPSA Health Service Ballot Opens Today – 27 October 2022 – The NIPSA Industrial Action ballot of Health Service members opens today, 27 October and closes 18 November 2022. NIPSA is urging all members to have their say in regards to Pay, Unsafe Staffing Levels and Travel Reimbursement rates all of which have been subject to historical under investment. The ballot is seeking majority support for actions including strike and action short of strike action read more

 

Royal College of Nursing

Severe nursing workforce shortages: new RCN report exposes urgent need for government action (4 Nov) – Latest data shows thousands fewer nursing students will graduate in England over the coming years read more

 

Royal College of Midwives

Scotland’s midwives vote yes to industrial action over pay (27 Oct) – Midwife and maternity support worker (MSW) members of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) across Scotland have overwhelmingly voted yes on taking industrial action, up to and including strike action, over the Scottish Government’s ‘insulting’ pay offer. Smashing through the Government imposed ballot threshold, the result comes after the RCM ballot on pay closed earlier today. In a turnout of 61% of eligible voters over 88% voted yes to taking industrial action consisting of a strike. On the question are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike, 94.6% voted yes…The RCM says if industrial action takes place, NHS employers in Scotland will be given adequate notice of any type of industrial action read more

Have your say on Northern Ireland pay says RCM to members as pay consultation opens (20 Oct) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on its members in Northern Ireland to make their voices heard over pay. The College is consulting its members in Northern Ireland on whether they are willing to take industrial action over their pay. The consultation opens today for RCM members working in the HSC in Northern Ireland and runs until 10 November. Midwives and maternity support workers (MSW) in Northern Ireland have no pay offer on the table because of the absence of a functioning executive and lack of a budget says the RCM. Health Minister Robin Swann has said he is willing to accept the NHS Pay Review Body’s (PRB) recommendations on pay. This equates to around a 4% pay award for staff at the top of Band 6 and Band 7, and a £1400 consolidated award for most others on the Agenda for Change pay structure. Inflation is now over 10% and predictions are it will rise even higher. The RCM says that even if the pay award is implemented the PRB recommendation is an insult, lags way behind the spiralling cost of living, and is effectively a pay cut read more

RCM announces date it will ballot members in England and Wales on industrial action (7 Oct) – The RCM is urging all members working in the NHS in England and Wales to vote yes to industrial action over pay as it announces the date its official ballot will open. After members in both countries overwhelmingly rejected their governments’ below-inflation pay award, the statutory ballot for midwives and maternity support workers will open on 11 November and run for four weeks. All members working as midwives or MSWs employed by the NHS in England and Wales are eligible to vote. For now, the RCM says it’s vital that every member ensures their postal addresses and employment details are up to date, so they do not miss out on their chance to vote provide all member data to Civica, the independent voting service read more

 

BMA

BMA Junior Doctors have tweeted today (17 Oct): Starting around January 9 2023, we will ballot junior doctor members in England for industrial action. Keep up to date via @BMA_JuniorDocs on twitter

Government refuse to engage – We are deeply disappointed that despite ample opportunity, Ministers have ignored our calls to value junior doctors appropriately and duly restore their pay to 2008/09 levels. We requested official approval from BMA council, the union’s principal executive committee, to ballot members in England around the 9 January 2023 for industrial action. The last two years have been far from ordinary for anyone working in the NHS and junior doctors have made both an enormous contribution and a significant sacrifice. The effects on their wellbeing are likely to be felt for years to come whilst tackling the daunting backlog of treatment for patients. And yet none of this is recognised by the government, who by refusing an enhanced uplift, are simply further eroding junior doctors’ pay read more

 

NEU

NEU announces dates of formal ballots over pay (18 Oct) – NEU writes to employers with notification of intention to carry out national ballots. Today the National Education Union is writing to employers with notification of our intention to carry out national ballots of around 300,000 teacher and support staff members in England and Wales. These formal postal ballots will open on Friday 28 October 2022 and close on Friday 13 January 2023. Dates for potential strike action are yet to be decided, but likely to be from week commencing 30 January 2023.  In our recent indicative ballots, which closed last week:-

– 62% of teacher members and 68% of support staff members in more than 23,000 schools voted;

– 98% of teacher members believe that all teachers should receive a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise;

– 86% of teacher members would be willing to take strike action to demand that rise;

– 92% of support staff reject the employers’ final pay offer for 2022/23;

– 78% of support staff would vote yes to strike action.

The formal ballots will ask members “Are you prepared to take strike action in furtherance of this dispute?” Each dispute is about the failure to give a commitment for a fully funded above-inflation pay rise (as measured by September 2022 RPI) read more

SchoolCuts relaunch (8 Nov) – School Cuts website relaunched amidst deepening funding crisis. New projections for school funding, compiled by School Cuts, show that 90% of schools with comparable data will have lower per pupil funding in real terms in 2023-24 than in 2022-23. Real terms per-pupil funding is set to be cut by £147 over the same period. This is on top of historic real-terms cuts. Today (Tuesday) sees the launch of a fully updated School Cuts website. Anticipating the Chancellor’s Statement on 17 November, School Cuts makes clear the stark situation ahead of us read more

Support this strike:-

Nottingham Academy/Nottingham City: 8-9 November [email protected]

 

NASUWT

NASUWT announces IOM teachers strike action (3 Nov) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in the Isle of Man will take six days of strike action over the coming months in an escalation of their current dispute with the DESC over pay, workload and working practices. Strike action is planned for 30th November, 1st December, 11th and 12th January and 15th and 16th February. The strike action has been called after NASUWT members overwhelmingly rejected a revised pay offer read more

Ballot opens on industrial action over teachers’ pay (27 Oct) – The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is today (Thursday) opening its formal statutory industrial action ballot of teachers in England and Wales over pay. The ballot in England and Wales will remain open until 9 January. The Union opened a ballot of members in Scotland yesterday (Wednesday) which will remain open until 21 November. The ballots are the result of the failure by the Westminster, Scottish and Welsh governments and employers to guarantee teachers and headteachers a fully-funded real-terms pay award of 12%. Members in schools and sixth-form colleges are being balloted over both strike action and action short of strike action. A timetable for and details of what any possible industrial action will entail will be determined once the ballots are concluded read more

 

EIS

EIS Opens Industrial Action Ballot over Safety of Staff at Northfield Academy (31 Oct) – The EIS has opened a statutory industrial action ballot for its members at Northfield Academy in Aberdeen. The ballot has been prompted by serious concerns over the safety of staff, resulting from extremely challenging behaviour by a small percentage of pupils at the school. Despite the EIS taking a number of steps to seek to address the issue, the lack of an adequate response from school leadership and the local authority has now compelled the EIS to seek a mandate for industrial action read more

EIS Opens Strike Ballot over pay in all Council Areas Across Scotland (11 Oct) – The EIS has opened a statutory strike ballot over teachers’ pay in all 32 Council areas across Scotland. Postal ballot papers are now being issued to EIS members across Scotland, who will have until 8th November to use their vote. The EIS, which represents 8 out of 10 teachers in Scotland, is urging its members to vote Yes to strike action, in the continuing campaign for a fair pay settlement for teachers read more

Teacher pay: EIS Issues Formal Strike Ballot Notices to all 32 Local Authority Employers (5 Oct) – The EIS has announced that it has issued formal notices to all 32 Scottish local authorities confirming that the EIS will open a statutory strike ballot for teachers one week from today, on Wednesday 12 October. The move to a statutory ballot for strike action follows the overwhelming result in a recent consultative ballot, in which 91% of EIS members confirmed their willingness to move to strike action in pursuit of a fair pay settlement read more

EIS-ULA Opens Statutory Ballot (29 Sept) – The EIS has today (Thursday) opened a statutory ballot for industrial action for its members in the Higher Education Sector. Following a consultative ballot, which strongly indicated members of the EIS University Lecturers’ Association (EIS-ULA) wished to take action in the current pay dispute, the EIS-ULA Executive is recommending members vote yes to strike action read more

 

UCU

Sheffield International College to be hit with 5 days of strikes over low pay (7 Nov) – UCU members at the University of Sheffield International College will take five days of strike action from Thursday 17 November in a long running dispute over low pay. The action will be the first ever strike to take place in a privatised higher education provider. The full days of strike action are: Thursday 17 November, Friday 18 November, Monday 28 November, Tuesday 29 November, Wednesday 30 November. Staff will also work to rule from Monday 21 November, which includes working strictly to their contracted hours, refusing to make up work lost as a result of strike action and refusing to cover for absent colleagues. Last month an overwhelming 84% of staff who voted said yes to strike action after employers refused to raise pay by more than 5%. The turnout in the ballot was over 83%. UCU is demanding a pay award of at least 12% to help staff meet the cost of living crisis read more

Strike over low pay set to hit Barnet & Southgate College open day (3 Nov) – Barnet and Southgate College will be hit with strike action on Wednesday 16 November, impacting the college’s open day. Staff have already taken three days of strike action in the dispute which is over management’s paltry 2% pay award for the previous two financial years (1% 2020/21 and 1% 2021/2). Inflation is currently at 12.6% and UCU is demanding a significant uplift to help staff meet the cost of living crisis. UCU said the college has two weeks to make a meaningful pay offer or its members will picket the college open day on at the High Barnet Campus on Wednesday 16 November read more

Strike ballot opens at Darlington College over low pay (2 Nov) – UCU members at Darlington College are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over low pay. The ballot opened on Monday and will run until Monday 14 November. The ballot comes after the employer imposed a pay award of just 1% alongside a one off payment of £250. RPI is currently at 12.6% so the award means staff pay has fallen dramatically behind inflation. UCU is demanding a pay award of at least 10% to help staff meet the cost-of-living crisis. Staff at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, have just won a deal worth 9.2% for the majority of college lecturers read more

UCU members win 9.2% pay award at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale (1 Nov) – UCU welcomed a pay deal which will see most lecturers at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale awarded a 9.2% increase in pay. An overwhelming 98% of UCU members at Hopwood voted to accept the offer, which will arrive in this month’s pay packets and is back dated to August. The deal is worth 9.2% for most lecturers. For new lecturers who are at the bottom of the spine and for Skills Development Coaches the deal is worth 20.25%, over £5k. All pay awards are consolidated. The deal also includes a commitment to creating a joint workload agreement with UCU before the end of the academic year. Staff at Hopwood Hall called off strike action earlier this year due to meaningful pay negotiations taking place. Elsewhere, more than 30 colleges across England have seen up to 10 days of strike action over the past two months over pay, in what has been the biggest wave of industrial action English further education has ever seen. Many disputes are still live and UCU is calling on other colleges to follow Hopwood and make pay offers that help staff deal with the cost of living crisis if they want to avoid any further disruption read more

University staff vote for UK-wide strike action in historic ballot (24 Oct) – Over 70,000 university staff at 150 universities could now strike after UCU members overwhelmingly voted ‘yes’ to strike action in two historic national ballots. The results in both ballots saw the union deliver momentous turnouts that beat the anti-union threshold. More than eight in ten of those who voted said ‘yes’ to strike action. The union now has a mandate to deliver strike action at practically every university in the UK and has called on vice chancellors to enter negotiations immediately and make improved offers in order to avoid disruption. Staff were balloted across two separate ballots: pay & working conditions, and cuts to pensions. In the pay and working condition ballot, the yes vote for strike action was 81.1% and the turnout was 57.8%. In the pension ballot, the yes vote for strike action was 84.9% and the turnout was 60.2%. Staff also voted yes overwhelmingly for action short of strike in both ballots. UCU said the result is a clear indication of the anger felt by university staff read more

Prison educators vote to strike across England over low pay (6 Oct) – Over 400 staff working in education at 48 prisons and youth offender institutions across England could walk out after voting for strike action. Members voted overwhelmingly for strike action with 94.47% of those voting, voting ‘YES’ in a vote that surpassed the 50% turnout threshold imposed by Tory anti trade union legislation. The prison educators, who are employed by Novus, have seen their pay fall by more than 25% since 2009. Prison education is already one of the lowest paid sectors, as highlighted by the House of Commons Education Select Committee read more

UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.

 

FBU

Bonfire night: new statistics show fire and rescue services slashed (5 Nov) – This bonfire night there are worries that fire and rescue services may not be able to cope, with new statistics revealing massive cuts. Bonfire night is traditionally the fire and rescue service’s busiest night of the year and can be hugely dangerous for fires and other incidents. Statistics collated by the Fire Brigades Union reveal further real-terms cuts to central funding for fire and rescue services in England read more

Firefighters launch consultative ballot on pay (31 Oct) – Firefighters and fire control staff are being balloted today over to whether accept a 5% pay offer from employers. The Fire Brigades Union’s executive council is recommending that members vote to reject the offer, which represents a significant real-terms pay cut and follows a decade of real-terms pay cuts in the fire and rescue service. This is a consultative ballot on the pay offer itself, with rejection not automatically leading to strike action. In this consultative ballot, members can vote online or by post. Online and postal ballots are being sent out today Monday 31st October, with the ballot closing on Monday 14 November read more

 

POA

Pension challenge – Firefighter, Police & POA members injury to feelings compensation (27 Oct) – Our members have posed the question as to why they are receiving less compensation than firefighters and the Police. I asked the question to our solicitors and Barristers dealing with this on behalf of members, please see below a letter explaining the issue read more

 

NAPO

HM Probation and Prisons Inspectorate publish OMiC thematic report (4 Nov) – This week saw the publication of a joint thematic report on pre-release work under the Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) model by HM Inspectorates of Probation and Prison – A joint thematic inspection of Offender Management in Custody – pre-release (justiceinspectorates.gov.uk). More detailed communications on this will be issued in the near future but we believed it was important to send this short message to members at the earliest opportunity, especially those involved with OMiC directly read more

Napo challenging the employer on pay issues (4 Nov) – Napo is aware of a number of issues that have emerged over the course of the week relating to pay, and we have received numerous emails from members regarding these. At the time of writing, most of these issues remain unresolved but we wanted to update members about what the issues are, and what progress has been made to date. There are several sticking points, in that the Trade Unions and the employer have different positions on what was agreed and negotiated as part of the three year pay deal.  Its highly possible that some of these may lead to National disputes being lodged by the Probation Unions if agreement cannot be reached read more

 

BFAWU

Action needed to close the disability pay gap (7 Nov) – Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary: 7 November is Disability Pay Gap Day. It’s the day when the average Disabled worker stops getting paid for the rest of the year, compared to the average non-disabled worker. This means that that Disabled workers will work 54 days without pay this year. This year the Disability Pay Gap has widened. Disabled workers are now earning £2.05 less per hour than non-disabled workers, compared to £1.90 in 2021. That’s a pay gap of 17.2 per cent and means Disabled workers take home £3,731 a year less than non-disabled workers. This is at a time when the cost-of-living is growing and growing read more

Interpreters union secure campaign victory (31 Oct) – Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary: Members of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) who work as interpreters have secured a significant step forward in their campaign against low pay and insecure work. The workers who provide interpreting services in the NHS, courts and other public services have been demanding changes to their terms and conditions. Currently, they lose out on pay when shifts are cancelled at short notice and without warning but a long running and successful campaign by the union will see  interpreters  receive increased payments if they are subjected to shift cancellations without warning. The union will also be consulted on a new framework for procuring interpreting services read more

Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more

 

NUJ

NUJ welcomes settlement in pay dispute with Al Jazeera (1 Nov) – Planned strikes will no longer take place following the company’s 4.5% pay offer to members in 2022 and 2023. The National Union of Journalists has welcomed the settlement of our pay dispute with Al Jazeera English and has now withdrawn the threat of industrial action at the UK service of the Qatar broadcaster. NUJ members at Al Jazeera English recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action (96%) following a protracted dispute over pay. Members were planned to work to rule, as well as two 24-hour strikes planned for November 4th and November 20th. However, following intensive engagement, the company has agreed to accept the NUJ proposals read more

“Biggest threat ever” to BBC local radio (31 Oct) – Significant cuts will mean shared programming across the network. The BBC has announced significant cuts across the board in local radio, as it seeks to save money and shift the corporation towards prioritising digital content read more

Musk’s Twitter scoop poses threat to media freedom (31 Oct) – Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter raises concerns about implications for journalists on the platform. This month, Elon Musk completed his purchase of Twitter in a deal costing over £38bn. The deal has raised questions about the future of the platform, and its ability to protect users from online abuse and misinformation, while defending media freedom under its new leadership. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has questioned how Musk will ensure press freedom is protected read more

 

Prospect

Arts Council England NPO funding announcement devastating for London’s creative workforce (4 Nov) – Commenting on today’s National Portfolio Organisation funding announcement from Arts Council England, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “We are shocked and dismayed at the over £50 million worth of government cuts to London’s arts funding in today’s Arts Council England announcement. Bectu is deeply concerned about the impacts on our members at the Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Donmar Warehouse and Glyndebourne, and particularly those at the English National Opera who face the uncertainty of a move out of London…” read more

Prospect civil and public services industrial action indicative ballot (3 Nov) – Our members in the civil service and wider public sector are under unparalleled attack. Prospect’s Public Services Executive has concluded that if the attacks on members are not challenged – they will only increase and intensify read more

Prospect ballots members at AWE on industrial action over pay (19 Oct) – Prospect will ballot its members on industrial action over pay at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). Headquartered in Aldermaston, Berkshire, AWE supports and maintains the UK nuclear deterrent. The ballot opens on 24th October and will run for two weeks. Unite union will also be balloting about the same issue read more

 

Community

Pay increase at Stelrad! (6 Nov) – We are very pleased to have secured a significant increase to pay for all workers at Stelrad.  This will take effect from 1st November 2022, and we are very pleased to have reached a deal six months early and that this deal has been approved by 92.3% of members read more

 

SIPTU (Ireland)

SIPTU members protest at Bunratty over failure to transfer Shannon Heritage tourism sites to Clare County Council (3 Nov) – SIPTU members working for Shannon Heritage protested at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park on Friday, 28th October, to highlight the continued failure of the Government to announce the funding required to facilitate the transfer of Shannon Heritage tourism sites to Clare County Council read more

SIPTU members ballot for industrial action in two health facilities in Clifden (20 Oct) – SIPTU members in Clifden District Hospital and St. Anne’s Community Nursing Unit in Clifden, county Galway, are to ballot on industrial action in a dispute resulting from unilateral changes to their conditions of employment including their sick leave scheme read more

 

Mandate

Raise the Roof Dáil Campaign Group to Hold National Rally for Housing on 26th November and Series of Public Meetings across Dublin (1 Nov) – The Raise the Roof campaign group is to stage a national Rally for Housing in Dublin on Saturday, 26th November, as part of a wider initiative that will also see a series of major public meetings on housing in the capital, over the coming weeks read more

Cost of Living Day of Local Action November 12

 

 

Other news

FROM PENTONVILLE TO P&O: union rights & tory wrongs: campaigning for free trade unions – conference hosted by the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom, supported by the Institute of Employment RightsSaturday 3rd December from 11am, Hamilton House NEU National Office, Mabledon Place London read more

SOS NHS CONFERENCE 2022: END THE NHS CRISIS – Saturday 12th November 10am-5pm London Irish Centre 50-52 Camden Square London NW1 9XB register

SHAC the Social Housing Action Campaign’ and other housing campaigners are demanding a freeze on social rents, shareholder rents, and service charges. The campaign is already moving government. In August, government announced a cap on around 5% (instead of the 10% that would have been likely under the previous formula). But we don’t believe that this is low enough or broad enough. We need urgent funding to pay for campaign materials and basic admin costs. We also need trade unions to help us get our message across. Please see here to find out more, download our model motions for unions, or make a donation to account name ‘The Social Housing Action Campaign’, account number 20434685, Sort Code 60-83-01

 

International News

Fight against Sri Lanka state oppression – Wednesday 9th November International Day of Action – London protest 4pm Sri Lanka High Commission

Reinstate dismissed Marlboro workers in Turkey (called by SPOT – Solidarity with the People of Turkey) – Send messages of protest to union DiSK Gida-is – [email protected]; Send messages of protest to Philip Morris – [email protected]

 

 

Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps

QC appointed to lead the independent Unite inquiry into blacklisting – 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/blacklist-SG/

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

 

Keep an eye out for other Facebook and social media groups and pages that are being created. The Coronavirus Support Group for Workers has been set up on Facebook and is a useful forum and you can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK

 

Diary

 

CONTACT US

PHONE 07952 283 558

EMAIL mailto:[email protected]

 

TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts

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ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE