The strike wave shows no sign of relenting as workers are forced to fight for pay rises that protect them from rising prices.
This week alone, Unite launches a month-long strike at St Mungos and all out action at Survitec in Dunmurry in Northern Ireland, while their members in the NHS in London and Yorkshire will also be on strike. Railworkers in ASLEF and the RMT will be taking action in the train operating companies and BFAWU members strike for 48-hours at Allied Bakeries in Liverpool from today. Read our weekly bulletins for details of these and the many other disputes that are taking place and how you can support the striking workers and their unions.
Unite St Mungos Strike Rally Midday Tuesday 30th May Thomas More Square (Near St Katherines Dock), London E1W 1YW. Speakers Include: Jeremy Corbyn – Islington MP, Onay Kasab – Lead National Officer Unite, Pete Kavanagh – Regional Secretary Unite Paul Kershaw – Chair Unite housing workers branch. See list of St Mungos picket lines and other strike events here
Come to the NSSN Conference on Saturday 24th June in London and participate in the discussion about how we defeat the Tory cost of living squeeze and their anti-union laws.
2023 NSSN Conference – Saturday 24th June in Conway Hall, London 11am-4.30pm –Attendance fee £6. You can register on the day at conference or email us in advance via [email protected]
Confirmed speakers so far: NIPSA General Secretary Carmel Gates, BFAWU General Secretary Sarah Woolley, POA General Secretary Steve Gillan, NAPO National Official Annoesjka Valent, GMB Officer Gary Palmer from the victorious #GMBThree
NSSN Conference letter for union branches and trades councils Facebook event
Hundreds of thousands of workers have been on strike for the first time. Many hundreds if not thousands have become workplace reps or stewards for the first time. Our conference will bring together active rank-and-file trade unionists – both new and longstanding – from across the whole of the trade union movement, including every union that has been involved in strike action. All union members are very welcome to attend
NSSN news
NSSN fringe meeting at GMB Congress in Brighton – speakers include Rob Williams NSSN Chair & GMB Officer Gary Palmer from the victorious #GMBThree, chair: Kim Hendry GMB activist (personal capacity) – 5pm/end of congress Monday 5th June The Old Ship Hotel, 32-38 Kings Rd, Brighton Seafront BN1 1NR
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 Katrine 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
You can receive this bulletin via email or you can choose to unsubscribe and stop receiving them. Like everyone else, the NSSN has to adhere to new data protection regulations. Therefore you must click here to subscribe/unsubscribe. Reports from unions do not necessarily reflect NSSN’s views.
RMT
Tory London leader told to apologise over assembly member comments (27 May) – The Conservative leader in the London Assembly has been asked to distance himself from comments made by fellow Tory politician Tony Devenish. Earlier this week Mr Devenish via Twitter made allegations against London Underground workers accusing them of ‘skiving’ and denied there were any staff shortages, despite evidence to the contrary read more
DHL contract staff vote for strike action on Avanti (26 May) – RMT members working in catering supply for Avanti have voted to take strike action in a dispute over pay. The workers who are employed by contractor DHL provide the catering stores for Avanti trains. They have not been offered a pay rise despite the cost-of-living crisis and rising inflation. Members delivered a 97.5% ‘yes’ vote on a 66% turnout read more
Call for investigation into government policy on railway ticket offices (23 May) – Rail union RMT, has written to Transport Focus calling for an investigation into reports that ticket offices can no longer sell the cheapest rail tickets. The union believes the government and rail companies are deliberately preventing ticket offices from selling cheaper rail tickets as part of a strategy for running down and ultimately shutting all ticket offices read more
London Underground staff vote to extend strike mandate with huge YES vote (23 May) – Tube union, RMT have extended their mandate for strike action on London Underground with a huge 96% vote for action. RMT members on London Underground are in dispute with TfL over jobs, cuts, and attacks on pensions and working conditions. The re-ballot which is a requirement of UK anti trade union legislation smashed all thresholds. 96% of those that voted said “Yes” for more strike action on a turnout of 56.5%. Those voting “yes” represent 54% of those entitled to vote read more
Railway workers in the national dispute to take strike action on June 2 (18 May) – RMT members working for the 14 train companies in the national rail dispute will walkout on Friday June 2. The union found the RDG’s previous offer and associated conditions unacceptable and despite contact between the parties since the strike on 13 May, no new proposals have been formulated for the RMT to consider. The strike on June 2 will see 20,000 railway workers in catering, train managers and station staff all take action, affecting train services throughout the country read more
ASLEF
Train Drivers to take three days of strike action – Train drivers at 15 companies will be taking strike action on Friday 12 May, Wednesday 31 May, and Saturday 3 June 2023 in a long-running dispute. Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; London North Eastern Railway; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; SWR depot drivers; SWR Island Line; TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Trains. ASLEF members at these train companies have been in dispute for almost a year over the failure of management to offer a fair deal on pay. Most of the drivers have not had a pay increase at all since 2019 and with inflation still well over 10% and the cost of living spiralling, this is not acceptable read more
TSSA
TSSA members in Elizabeth Line Cancel Planned Industrial Action (22 May) – TSSA today (Tuesday) cancelled planned industrial action on London’s Elizabeth Line, Britain’s busiest rail line, after members voted to accept an improved pay offer. Eighty percent of TSSA members voted to accept the latest offer which the union says addresses their main concerns. As a result, the planned Action Short of a Strike which was due to begin on Saturday 27 May will now not go ahead. TSSA had already suspended strike action planned for Wednesday (24 May) read more
Unite
Survitec workers at Dunmurry to commence all out strike action from midnight Thursday June 1 (29 May) – Unite the union members vote 100% on a 80% turnout to take strike action after insulting 6% pay increase offer. All-out strike action of 160 workers at workplace will shut down production at manufacturer of lifeboats and sea safety equipment. Unite the union has confirmed that its members at Survitec in Dunmurry will commence all-out strike action from Thursday June 1st. The workforce are seeking an inflation-proof pay increase after they rejected as inadequate a 6% pay offer. The strike is expected to shut down production at the site which manufactures emergency sea lifeboats and supplies. Demand for the survival technology produced by Survitec has surged post-Covid leaving the company operating at or close to full capacity. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham offered support to the workers ahead of the strike read more
Heathrow strikes to escalate as more security officers vote for strike action (26 May) – The pay dispute at Heathrow airport is set to escalate as around 600 more security officers have voted to join the dispute. Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed as security officers by Heathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) at Terminal 3, have recorded an 85 per cent yes vote for strike action. The decision of the security officers at Terminal 3 to take strike action is a significant development. They join their 1,400 colleagues employed as security officers at Terminal 5 and Campus Security, who are currently taking industrial action. The security officers at Terminal 5 and Campus Security are currently in their second day of their latest round of industrial action, with the final day of their current industrial action taking place tomorrow (Saturday 27 May) read more
Pitiful pay provokes a month long strike at homeless charity St Mungo’s (26 May) – A protest will take place at St Mungo’s Headquarters as workers embark on a month long strike. When: Tuesday 30 May between 12.00pm – 2.00pm; Where: St Mungo’s Head Office in Tower Hill, 3 Thomas More St, E1W 1YW. Workers will embark on a month long strike between Tuesday 30 May and Monday 26 June. The workers will stage a lunch time protest this Tuesday (30 may) at St Mungo’s Head Office in Tower Hill. Workers at the homeless charity St Mungo’s will embark on a month long strike beginning on Tuesday 30 May. The dedicated charity workers are fed up with greed at the top of their homeless charity while they struggle to make ends meet. There will be pickets in London, Brighton, Bristol and Oxford. The charity’s latest pay offer of a pitiful 2.25% spectacularly backfired resulting in the announcement of a month long strike. Fury amongst the workforce is growing and now new members are joining Unite in droves. Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Charity workers who should be on the streets helping the homeless have reached breaking point. The workers are now taking a stand. Instead of seizing the initiative to end the dispute, management’s decision to offer a pitiful 2.25% has spectacularly backfired. Now St Mungo’s faces a month long strike and the workers have Unite’s total support. The pitiful pay offer has just made everyone in the union angrier…” read more Donate to hardship fund
Secretary of State budget cuts threaten to devastate water quality and pose public health risk (26 May) – Department for Infrastructure equality impact screening document countenances end of waste water cleansing and likelihood of sewers exploding into homes, businesses and onto public streets. Unite the union has condemned punitive budget cuts enforced by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, after a report emerged revealing that the Department for Infrastructure is actively considering a policy of ceasing wastewater treatment entirely. In a preliminary equality impact assessment screening, the Department for Infrastructure assessed the impacts that would follow the cessation of waste water treatment by Northern Ireland Water. The report confirmed that it ‘would result in the discharge of screened raw sewage at coastal wastewater treatment works’ reducing the percentage of population served by compliant waste water treatment works to only 25% read more
Manchester Metrolink workers to strike over June weekend over pay (26 May) – Workers employed on the Manchester Metrolink tram system will strike over the weekend of June 10 and 11 following a woeful pay offer from the company. The 600 plus members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, recorded a 95 per cent yes vote on a 84 per cent turnout in favour of strike action. The dispute is a result of Metrolink only being prepared to make a pay offer of five per cent for a 15 month period. With the real inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 11.4 per cent, this amounts to a very substantial real terms pay cut read more
Strike to hit supplies of Coca Cola, Sprite & Fanta this summer (25 May) – Workers announce strikes at Europe’s biggest soft drinks plant. Coca Cola Europacific Partner’s offers a real terms pay cut whilst profits rise 37% to £1.85 billion. Offering workers a real terms pay cut when business is booming is nothing short of corporate greed. A series of strikes will hit supplies of Britain’s favourite soft drinks this summer because the hugely profitable Coca Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) won’t pay workers a fair wage which matches inflation. The workers are planning 14 days of strikes between Thursday 8 June and Thursday 22 June. Hundreds of workers at the largest soft drinks plant in Europe, in Wakefield, have voted for industrial action by a margin of 87% in protest over a pay offer which does nothing to address the cost of living crisis. This is after CCEP generated revenues over £15 billion (17 billion Euros) combined with an operating profit of £1.85 billion (2.1 billion Euros). The CCEP wage deal across different grades amounts to an average 6% increase. That’s gone ‘flat’ with the workers when inflation (RPI) is still booming read more
Xplore Dundee workers ‘emphatically’ back strike action in pay dispute (25 May) – City’s only bus operator to be brought to a stop. Unite the union announced today (25 May) that around 200 workers employed by Xplore Dundee backed strike action in a dispute over pay. The bus workers based from the East Dock Street depot emphatically supported strike action by 93 per cent on an 88.6 per cent turnout. Unite members involved in the ballot included drivers, duty managers, platform staff, and administrative staff. The ballot result follows the workforce having overwhelmingly rejected a 7 per cent pay offer made by Xplore Dundee. Unite confirmed there has been no improvement on this offer, and that it will set out the schedule of industrial action to impact Xplore Dundee in the coming days read more
Edinburgh Airport workers emphatically support strike action in pay dispute (25 May) – Unite warns of travel ‘chaos’ during summer unless improved offer brought forward by airport management. Unite the union confirmed today (25 May) around 275 workers based at the nation’s largest airport in Edinburgh have supported taking strike action in a dispute over pay. The strike action was supported by 85 per cent of the membership on a 75 per cent turnout. The trade union is calling on airport bosses to get back round the table with an improved pay offer to avert travel ‘chaos’ during the summer period read more
Cepac print workers in Darlington ballot for strike action over pay (25 May) – Food and drink producers across the UK face running out of packaging if workers at Cepac vote for strike action in a dispute over pay. The 80 plus members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, began balloting for industrial action this week and the ballot will close on Tuesday 6 June. If the workers vote for strike action then strikes could begin later next month. The ballot is a result of the company only offering an eight per cent strings attached pay increase. The offer is a real terms pay cut with the true rate of inflation (RPI) currently standing at 11.4 per cent. Cepac have also said that the eight per cent increase is dependent on the working week increasing from 37 hours to 40 hours, an inferior sick pay scheme, changes to shift patterns and reduced overtime rates read more
Industrial action looming at DHL in Halewood and Midlands sites (25 May) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, is preparing to ballot its workers employed by DHL at Halewood for strike action, as a direct result of the company’s management refusing to respond to serious safety concerns and victimising Unite reps. The workers are employed by DHL on the logistics, distribution and transport contract for Jaguar Land Rover at its Halewood plant in Merseyside and plants across the Midlands. The looming industrial action is a direct result of DHL refusing to deal with workers raising safety concerns. DHL has failed to respond to workers’ concerns about being forced to take defective vehicles onto the road. Rather than deal with the workforce’s legitimate safety concerns, DHL has instead begun to victimise and dismiss Unite reps who have pursued the matter read more
Cornwall concrete shortage looming as HGV drivers strike for union recognition (25 May) – Cornwall concrete shortage looming as HGV drivers strike for union recognition. Maen Karne drivers at Hayle and Penryn to fight union-busting. HGV concrete mixer drivers employed by Maen Karne are to strike over the company’s refusal to recognise their union. The drivers, who are represented by Unite, the UK’s leading union, deliver fresh concrete across Cornwall. The strikes will cause severe to disruption to the construction projects of Maen Karne’s customers. The workers requested a voluntary recognition agreement from Maen Karne on behalf of Unite to allow for collective bargaining over pay and conditions, which was rejected. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite cannot accept union busting. Our members’ jobs, pay and conditions are this union’s top priority and by refusing to enter a recognition agreement Maen Karne is clearly intent on blocking collective bargaining. Maen Karne’s workers will receive Unite’s total support during these strikes.” The concrete mixer drivers will strike on 30 and 31 May and 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 June. If the dispute is not resolved, more industrial action will be scheduled read more
Leeds pump manufacturer facing strike action across June which will disrupt supply (24 May) – Many of the UK’s largest companies are braced for problems and delays in acquiring specialist pumping products as workers at Leeds based Sulzer Pumps, have announced strike action following a poor pay offer. The approx 100 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, who are based at the company’s Manor Mill Lane factory have rejected a pay offer of 6.5 per cent and a £275 one off payment. The pay offer was in effect a substantial real terms pay cut with the current true rate of inflation (RPI) at 11.4 per cent. The workers will initially take strike action next month on 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 June as well as 7 July read more
Striking HTS workers to protest at Harlow Council meeting Thursday (24 May) – 300 low paid outsourced workers employed by council owned firm angry over pay rip off. Striking HTS workers responsible for Harlow’s social housing stock and maintaining the local authority’s grounds and buildings will stage a pay protest outside the full council meeting on Thursday (25 May) read more
Falling inflation does not mean we’ve reached a turning point (24 May) – Commenting on the latest ONS inflation figures released today (Wednesday 24 May 2023), Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Falling inflation does not mean we’ve reached a turning point where things can only get better. In the real world there’s no end in sight to the cost of living crisis…” read more
Unite – Fresh NHS strikes in London and Yorkshire (23 May) – The latest strikes form part of the union’s targeted approach to industrial action as it continues to put plans in place to further escalate the dispute and pressure the government to re-open pay negotiations. Unite members from across the Guy’s and St Thomas’ workforce, including nurses and other frontline workers, will stage a 24 hour strike beginning at 07:00 am on Thursday 1 June. This will be followed by a strike by Unite members employed at the Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, including paramedics and call handlers. The workers will be striking on Friday 2 June for up to seven hours, with strike action occurring between 14:00hrs and 22:00hrs read more
Unite offshore strike action steps up as 1650 contractors to strike hitting oil and gas operators (23 May) – Unite offshore strike action steps up as 1650 contractors to strike hitting oil and gas operators. Fresh rounds of 48-hour action to hit multibillion corporations including BP, Shell and Total. Unite the union can confirm today (23 May) that around 1650 contractors will begin two new rounds of 48-hour strike action in an increasingly bitter dispute over jobs, pay and conditions in the offshore sector. Around 1650 contractors across five companies will now participate in strike action starting on 1 June (6.30am) and ending on 3 June (6.29am), and then from 8 June (6.30am) to 10 June (6.29am). The prospective action includes electrical, production and mechanical technicians in addition to deck crew, scaffolders, crane operators, pipefitters, platers, and riggers working for Bilfinger UK Limited, Stork Technical Services, and Sparrows Offshore Services read more
HSE must investigate all work-related suicides, demands Unite (23 May) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, is calling for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to be given the power to investigate all suicides where work is a factor in someone taking their own life. The union made the call following an article published in the British Medical Journal, which called for all suicides of teachers to be investigated by the HSE. Unite believes extending the powers of the HSE to be able to investigate all work-related suicides is particularly important in tackling the excessive deaths occurring in industries such as construction. The latest figures reveal that suicide rates in construction are increasing and now stand at 33.82 per 100,000, the highest death rate of any sector. The latest figures, reveal that 507 construction workers committed suicide in 2001. Unite believes that the excessive number of construction worker suicides is often directly related to working conditions, including precarious employment, short term assignments, a long hours culture and high numbers working away from home. The coping mechanisms the overwhelmingly male workforce tend to employ to deal with the pressures of work include drinking, gambling and substance misuse, all of which can exacerbate mental health problems read more
Workers hail ‘historic’ decision by Industrial Court to hear application for trade union recognition at Seagate (22 May) – Trade union seeks voluntary recognition agreement with employer but is confident of winning collective bargaining rights through a statutory process. The Industrial Court has written to Unite to confirm that it will now proceed to hear the trade union’s application for collective bargaining recognition at Seagate. The decision marks a major step forward in the ongoing union drive at the Springtown-based manufacturer of read-write heads for hard drives which employs 1,600 onsite. The development is the latest in the member-led union drive by the workers to win recognition for their union, Unite, in a campaign that has won the support of the local community as well as solidarity from across the wider trade union movement in Ireland the UK. The workers’ campaign has received additional impetus following last week’s announcement of plans for over one hundred redundancies at the site read more
Unite the union in health issues warning on ‘inability to pay’ excuse (22 May) – Statement by Permanent Secretary poses the threat of pay inequality for NHS workers in the NHS. Unite the union has said the statement from the permanent secretary regarding a lack of ability to pay any pay increase to health staff is unnecessarily provocative to health and social care workers ahead of the scheduled meeting with Trade unions and the Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris. The comments raise the prospect of a return to pay inequality for NHS workers in Northern Ireland as compared to those elsewhere in the UK read more
Strike at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to go ahead after pay cut proposed (22 May) – College’s latest offer amounts to a real terms pay cut of 12%. Strike action set for 23-25 May during the College’s annual conference will go ahead. Members of Unite employed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) will continue strike action this week and stage a protest at the RCPCH annual conference in a dispute over an “appalling pay offer” read more
Workers at ‘monstrously wealthy’ City of London Corporation strike over pay attack (22 May) – Local authority for Square Mile has over £1.2b in reserves but slashes pay by 8.5% in real terms. More than 250 workers at the City of London Corporation, the local authority for London’s Square Mile financial centre, are to strike over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday). The City of London Corporation has imposed a lump sum pay increase for 2022/23 that is on average worth around 5 per cent. With the real rate of inflation (RPI) currently standing at 13.5 per cent, this is a real terms pay cut of 8.5 per cent. The workers also not see their wages rise during 2021/22, after the corporation reneged on the previous pay agreement. Unite’s members at the corporation are struggling with rocketing living costs and rents in London, one of the most expensive cities on the planet. Workers have reported using foodbanks, with one even sleeping in their car during the working week to keep travel costs down. Meanwhile, the local authority’s latest financial report shows it had reserves of over £1.2 billion in March 2022. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The City of London Corporation is monstrously wealthy but believes its already hard up workers should swallow a substantial real terms pay cut. The corporation does much to support and advocate for elite bankers earning millions. How can it possibly accept that its own staff should be driven to measures like using foodbanks and sleeping in cars just to get by? Unite never accepts attacks on our members’ jobs, pay or conditions and the corporation’s workforce will receive Unite’s unflinching support during these strikes.” The striking workers are employed in a variety of roles including security, police staff, grounds maintenance and administrative functions. Members of the GMB union are also involved in the dispute. The workers will stage an initial 24-hour strike on Thursday 25 May, severely disrupting the corporation’s key services. More industrial action will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved read more
Felixstowe 4’ protest demands justice at CK Hutchison AGM (18 May) – Unite delegation engages key investors at CK Hutchison AGM in Hong Kong. Banner drop at AGM demands reinstatement of four unfairly sacked dockers from Felixstowe. A campaign delegation has delivered Unite the Union’s demand for justice for four unfairly sacked Felixstowe dockers at the AGM of CK Hutchison in Hong Kong (18 May). Facing heavy security, Unite’s delegation engaged with CK shareholders and displayed a large banner within the building demanding: CK Hutchison: Reinstate the Felixstowe Four read more
Mahle Engine Systems workers strike in pay dispute (15 May) – Unite blames Kilmarnock based company for ‘failing to own its mistakes’. Unite the union confirmed today (Monday 15 May) that over 120 members based at Mahle Engine Systems will take strike action tomorrow (16 May). The dispute relates to pay discrepancies at the Kilmarnock plant after management failed to apply an extra increase to the entire workforce, in addition to a 3.4 per cent increase which all workers received from January 2023. The strike action will take place over the following dates: 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th and 30th May, and 1st June. Unite’s members emphatically supported strike action by 80 per cent in an 81.3 per cent turnout. The trade union can further confirm that its Mahle membership will hold an overtime ban effective from 7am today (15th May) until 14th August read more
UK facing taps and pipes shortage as Warrington based GXO drivers strike over sacking of Unite rep (12 May) – HGV drivers, employed by GXO on the contract to supply City Plumbing and PTS outlets, are set to take indefinite strike action from later this month, following the sacking of a Unite rep. The drivers have voted for strike action following the dismissal of Unite representative Paul Roberts on “trumped up charges”. The drivers, who are based at GXO’s Lockheed Road depot in Warrington, will begin their continuous strike action on Monday 22 May. Given the just-in-time nature of distribution contracts, City Plumbing and PTS will swiftly run short of materials read more
Ford at Dagenham facing standstill as Lineside Logistics workers strike over pay (11 May) – Ford’s iconic engine plant at Dagenham, East London, is set to come to a standstill later this month as workers employed by Lineside Logistics, who are responsible for engine and parts distribution, take strike action over pay. The 120 plus workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are also responsible for the company’s parts distribution network in Turkey and South Africa. The strike is a result of the company making a pay offer of 7.5 per cent at a time when the real inflation rate (RPI) currently stands at 13.5 per cent. This amounts to a substantial real terms pay cut. An initial nine days of strike action have been announced and will take place on 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 30 and 31 May as well as 1 and 2 June read more
Campaigners to demand NI Water intervene with their contractor Murphy International to reinstate ‘Murphy 4’ (14 May) – When: 10.30am Monday 15th May; Where: NI Water HQ, Westland Road, Belfast. Campaigners seeking the restoration of four Unite members, including a shop steward dismissed by he the Murphy group’s Irish subsidiary are to demand NI Water intervene with Murphy International, a contractor, to secure the re-employment of the workers. The protest is the latest in a campaign to reinstate the workers after their dismissal on what Unite members believe to be spurious grounds read more
Support Lee Fowler – Another blacklisted construction worker sacked after making complaints about safety on site. We’ll keep everyone informed of future protests read more about Lee’s case
Cumberland council exposed using anti-union laws to undermine lawful Allerdale refuse strike (4 May) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has discovered that Labour-controlled Cumberland council is using new Conservative anti-trade union laws in an attempt to undermine a lawful strike. Low paid refuse workers employed by Allerdale Waste Services began strike action last week after their employer refused to increase pay rates of £10.90 an hour for loaders and £11.89 for drivers, which are amongst the lowest in the UK for refuse workers. Allerdale Waste Services is a private company that is 100 per cent owned by Labour controlled Cumberland council. Unite has learned that rather than seek a resolution to the dispute, Allerdale Waste Services has instead utilised recently introduced Conservative anti-trade union laws, which allows the employer to recruit agency workers to undermine lawful industrial strike action. Unite has further learned that the agency loaders and drivers are being paid £14 an hour, which is far in excess of the rates of pay for its permanent staff read more
GSK strike wave across the UK begins in Montrose (1 May) – Multibillion corporation made an operating profit of £2.1bn in the first quarter of 2023. Workers employed by pharmaceutical giant GSK will stage a series of walkouts in a dispute over pay across the UK beginning in Montrose tomorrow (2 May). Over 160 workers who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, voted for strike action having rejected a below inflation pay offer of a six per cent pay increase, and a one-off lump sum of £1,300. Unite said the current offer represents a substantial real terms pay cut with the current inflation rate (RPI) standing at 13.5 per cent. The strike action beginning in Montrose tomorrow (2 May) until 4 May at 6am, will then spread throughout the UK during May. The strike action includes GSK’s Irvine plant where Unite members will also begin strike action on Thursday (4 May). It will then spread to Barnard Castle, Ware, Worthing and Ulverston read more
Workington refuse strikes to intensify as last gasp talks fail (26 Apr) – Refuse collection strikes affecting Workington and the surrounding area will begin tomorrow (27 April) after last gasp peace talks failed following an offer for which there is no justification at all. The 60 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, involved in the dispute are employed by Allerdale Waste Services. The dispute is a result of the poverty pay rates the workers receive. Loaders are paid £10.90 an hour, which is barely above the minimum wage, while drivers, who must hold an HGV licence, are only paid £11.89 an hour. The pay rates are among the lowest paid to refuse workers throughout the UK. Last gasp peace talks were held on Monday but they collapsed when management refused to increase pay rates and instead only offered two extra days of annual leave read more
Ferrari and Rolls Royce facing production delays during Gloucestershire and Somerset pay strikes (24 Apr) – Trelleborg workers in Tewkesbury and Bridgewater strike over ‘pay cut’ while firm brings in huge profits. More than 200 Trelleborg workers in Tewkesbury and Bridgewater supplying seals to aerospace, auto, medical, food and energy firms will strike over a real terms pay cut, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday). The factory workers, who make seals for clients such as Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Air Bus, the Ministry of Defence and Carl Zeiss, are striking after rejecting a 5.2 per cent pay offer. With the true rate of inflation, (RPI), at 13.5 per cent this is real terms pay cut of 8.3 per cent. Meanwhile, Trelleborg Seal Solutions’ latest financial report shows a turnover of £96.6 million and gross profits of £28.8 million…The first round of strikes will take place from 2 to 5 May, with industrial action set to intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more
Construction contractors to strike at DSM’s Dalry plant (17 Apr) – 3 week-long strike set to begin over bonus dispute involving Kaefer and Altrad. Unite the union members are set to begin a three-week long strike tomorrow (18 April) at DSM’s Dalry plant. The dispute is over the failure by Kaefer Limited and Altrad Babcock Limited to pay a local bonus to engineering construction workers who operate under the National Agreement for Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI) across the UK. The workers are demanding a local bonus under the terms of the NAECI agreement in recognition of flexibility and work being undertaken to assist with the delivery of a new manufacturing plant. Kaefer and Altrad along with DSM, who own the manufacturing plant, have refused to enter negotiations over bonus payments. DSM’s parent group – Royal DSM N.V. Group – recently recorded a net profit of €1.7bn (£1.5bn) for 2022. The strike action begins from 18 April and continues each day up to 8 May 2023 when the action will conclude at 23:59pm read more
Saica paper workers in Manchester to strike in pay dispute (12 Apr) – Workers employed at Saica Paper UK Ltd in Manchester are to begin industrial action this month in a dispute over pay. The 40 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are employed in production roles at the Manchester Road factory. The company produces 100 per cent recycled paper for corrugated cardboard. The workers recorded a 97 per cent vote in favour of strike action, having rejected a below inflation pay offer. They were offered a 9.5 per cent pay increase which is in itself a real terms pay cut with the inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 13.8 per cent. To make matters worse workers on average only received 6.5 per cent of the offer as a consolidated increase (permanent pay) with the rest being a one off lump sum payment…An initial series of six 12 and 24 hour strikes have been called for 21, 25 and 29 April, followed by 1, 5, 8 May read more
Rosyth dockyard workers to strike for 12 weeks threatening Type 31 Frigate contract (7 Apr) – 100 Kaefer contractors to down tools in pay dispute. Unite the union confirmed today (7 April) that around 100 members employed by construction contractor Kaefer Limited are set to take 12 weeks all-out strike action at the Rosyth dockyard. The Kaefer workers, which includes painters, cleaners, scaffolders and support service staff, are set to take the strike action from 17 April up to 10 July. Unite claims the strike action will directly threaten progress on the Type 31 frigates contract. Unite members emphatically supported strike action by 98.4 per cent over the failure by Kaefer to make a formal pay offer. The company following the strike vote made a 7.2 per cent pay offer which has been rejected by the workforce. Inflation currently stands at a forty-five year high of 13.8 per cent (RPI) read more
Newry Mourne and Down council services to be heavily impacted by industrial action from April 10th (6 Apr) – Members of GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU commence work-to-rule from Monday 10th April, to be joined by Unite from 12th April. Industrial action by members of all four trade unions at council proceeds after management renege on commitment to partnership-based job evaluation process. Trade unions at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council confirmed that industrial action is to commence at the local authority body. The action is set to commence with a work-to-rule by members of GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU on Monday April 10th with members of Unite the union joining the action from April 12th. The unions have warned that the industrial action, although confined to a ‘work-to-rule’ at this stage, is likely to result in significant impact to council services including those at leisure centres and with bin collections. The industrial dispute proceeds after members of all four unions voted for both strike action and action short of strike action in ballots. The dispute centres on attempts by management to ditch an earlier commitment reached in 2021 to a partnership-based approach for job evaluations. Management are also seeking to remove allowances for new staff members – creating a two-tier workforce. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is one of the last councils to meaningful engage with trade unions in the RPA process – despite the new councils coming into being 8 years ago. The work-to-rule will see workers refuse to take on overtime, tasks outside their job description, providing absentee cover or using their own vehicles for work purposes read more
Strike by over 300 Dundee City Council trades workers goes ahead (3 Apr) – Dispute over outsourcing and management failures. Unite the union can confirm today (3 April) that strike action by over 300 trades workers at Dundee City Council will go ahead tomorrow. All-out strike action is set to begin on 4 April for three weeks until 28 April, and then it will be followed by rounds of daily action until 23 June (see notes to editor). The dispute is centred on claims that public contracts to private contractors are being prepared for outsourcing by Dundee City Council read more
Unite blasts disgraceful Kingspan strikebreaking in effort to avoid fair pay (22 Mar) – Union escalates to round-the-clock pickets at Portadown site to defeat company greed. English workers get four star treatment while Polish workers left with hostels. Unite the union can reveal that Ulster Rugby sponsor Kingspan is flying in strikebreakers in a `disgraceful’ effort to undermine workers taking strike action for fair pay. Workers from Kingspan sites in Williton in Somerset, England and Rokietnica in Poland have been flown over in recent weeks and are now being used in an attempt to continue production onsite read more
CWU
Royal Mail Group National Agreement – Suspension of Ballot Timetable.
TO ALL MEMBERS: The position reached with Royal Mail Group is the right agreement for this moment in time. Set against the most brutal dispute in our history, a self-inflicted but very real financial crisis for the company and jointly agreed need for change, this agreement will secure the future of the company, jobs, and the service. However, what has become clear is the environment we are attempting to deliver this agreement in remains toxic. Royal Mail Group has not stepped back from their attacks in the workplace. This became more evident when they announced their Quality of Service results and failed to take any responsibility whatsoever for the disastrous position the company finds itself in. Unless Royal Mail Group openly accept that their culture of imposition and the ‘our business to run’ mantra must go – then the integrity of the negotiators agreement will be irreparably damaged. The CWU has made it clear to Royal Mail Group that unless we seriously revisit failed revisions, restore quality of service and end USO failures the business will not succeed. Royal Mail Group committed to this as the first step of the agreement but their ongoing actions and what you are seeing and feeling in the workplace do not in any way reflect this. On this basis, the Postal Executive has agreed to suspend the vote on the national agreement until the following actions are completed:
1. In line with section 2.5 of the agreement (Improving Quality of Service and USO Compliance), immediate measures must be agreed to restore quality of service and genuinely review all failed revisions.
2. A mass zoom meeting for every CWU Representative and Manager in the UK to confirm the measures we agree with the company will be implemented. This must also cover the following:
• A pause on year 3 revisions until quality of service is restored and productivity measures are realistic and achievable.
• The full restoration of the IR Framework agreement – including acceptance that savings targets are negotiable.
• The right for part-time members to move to full-time / increase their contractual hours (on current terms and conditions) ahead of bringing in new entrants.
3. All offices are in receipt of their proposed finish times.
We will be updating Branches on these developments later this afternoon.
This must finally be the wakeup call that senior management need to change the culture of imposition, command and control and finally show the humility required to deliver the agreement and change in a way that takes the workforce with them. We have written to Royal Mail Group in line with the above and are awaiting their response. Further developments will be reported in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward General Secretary
Andy Furey Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Follow the latest news via CWU’s Facebook page, website and Twitter @CWUnews
Unite, strengthen & rebuild: Vote YES to Business Recovery, Transformation & Growth (19 May) – Serious discussion, robust debate and unity of purpose at London, Glasgow & Belfast local rep meetings, as all-UK tour concludes read more
Overwhelming ‘YES’ vote in Virgin Media O2 pay ballot (26 May) – Members across Virgin Media O2 have voted by nearly nine-to-one to accept a CWU-brokered pay deal which delivers fully consolidated rises for all CWU represented grade employees in excess of 7, 8 or 9% this year – plus a cash lump sum of £400 to be paid in June. The company’s final offer – clinched following an eleventh-hour agreement by management to pay an additional 0.5% consolidated award to individuals for whom no automatic pay progression arrangements are in place – was accepted by 86.5% of members participating in a consultative ballot which closed yesterday (Thursday). Taking both consolidated and unconsolidated elements into consideration, the deal is worth just over 10% in cash terms this year for members working in O2 stores read more
ISS pay offer worth 8.45% for most out to ballot with strong vote ‘YES’ recommendation (23 May) – Members across ISS are being urged to accept an 11-month pay offer which delivers a fully consolidated rise of 85p-per-hour to well over a thousand housekeepers and security guards working on the outsourced facilities services provider’s BT contract. Electronic voting forms were emailed to all CWU members covered by the company’s ‘full and final’ offer this morning (Tuesday May 23) – with members now having two weeks to decide whether to accept the CWU-brokered deal, which includes two additional weeks of backdated pay. That’s because although the pay rise effectively became due on May 1, ISS has agreed to retrospectively apply the Real Living Wage (RLW) uplift from April 17 if the deal is ratified by members read more
PCS
You can show your support to the strikes by PCS members by:
- Making donations to the PCS Fighting Fund Levy account, sort code: 60-83-01, account no. 20331490
- Sending solidarity messages to [email protected]
- Signing our petition to tell prime minister Rishi Sunak to intervene and hold meaningful talks to end the strikes.
- Support us on social media with the hashtags: #PCSonStrike #BlameTheGovt
- New E-action in support of PCS national pay and pensions campaign – The E-action calls on MPs to support our demands over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security read more
Pensions: breaking news (26 May) – PCS has this afternoon heard that the Appeal Court has granted permission to appeal against the Court Judgment on our claim that pension contributions must be reduced following the valuation which showed that pension costs were higher than necessary. PCS is joined by five other unions in this legal action and we are now checking on the likely timing of the Appeal Hearing read more
New DVLA strike dates announced (26 May) – We are asking DVLA members working for Output Services Group at TY Felin and Morriston in Swansea to take part in strike action on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 June, as part of our national campaign. Due to shift working, the strike action will commence at 10pm, Sunday 11 June and those with a shift that commences on Sunday 25th will be covered to strike for the whole of that shift. This latest targeted strike action follows a resounding 96.66% vote in favour of industrial action on a turnout of 53.5% for DVLA read more
PCS invited to talks with Cabinet Office on national dispute (26 May) – PCS has been approached by the Cabinet Office with an invitation to meet and discuss all the issues in the UK civil service and related areas dispute. We expect the meeting to take place imminently. We will keep members and reps informed of any developments read more
HMRC strike continues to disrupt services (17 May) – PCS members working in Personal Taxation Operations in East Kilbride and Benton Park View are in their second week of strike action. Members have been out on picket lines at both sites this week and reports have been coming in of the effect of the strike action read more
PCS strike reballot results: Massive yes vote for strikes (10 May) – PCS members in the civil service and related areas have again voted in remarkable numbers for industrial action. We have achieved a fantastic result with an overall 88% ‘Yes’ vote for industrial action on an overall 52% turnout. The legal threshold for action has been exceeded in 106 employer areas; sustained, targeted strike action can now be taken by PCS members in any or all of these areas. We can continue to call a mixture of sustained action in targeted areas and all-member strike action as part of our continuing campaign. Both forms of action may include members in HMRC who already have a mandate for action read more
Ballot result briefing for DWP members (12 May) – The ballot results for strike action as part of PCS National Campaign were announced on 10 May. The vast majority of employer groups within PCS were successful in meeting the 50% threshold of members participating to meet the government’s anti-trade union legislation which requires a 50% turnout in order for the union to legally take strike action. Members in the DWP showed beyond a doubt with an 88% vote for strike action that they are not prepared to put up with below inflation pay rises, attacks on their pension schemes, redundancy terms and job insecurity. Unfortunately, in DWP we fell 1.35% short of meeting the government’s threshold despite strength of feeling so clearly demonstrated by those voting for strike action. This means for now we are unable to continue strike action in DWP read more
Support PCS HMRC picket lines next week (12 May) – PCS members working in Personal Taxation Operations on Employer Service in East Kilbride and Benton Park View continue their targeted action next week and you can show your support at their picket lines. Their action began this week and they are also striking from 15-19, 22-26, 29-31 May and on 1 and 2 June. The members will be holding picket lines at the workplaces next week. If you are in either area, please go along to show your support at the rally and at the picket lines read more
Find out about our picket lines in May (2 May) – Our programme of targeted strike action continues in May in the Care Quality Commission, DWP, Passport Office and HMRC. Go along and show your support. Members working in the Passport Offices in Belfast, Durham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport, Peterborough and Southport are continuing their strike action until 6 May and passport interview officers in Birmingham, Corby, Hemel Hempstead, Leeds, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Plymouth will walk out from May 3-6. DWP members at 13 jobcentres in Liverpool and Glasgow will strike from 3-6 May and the Care Quality Commission are on strike for two days on 2 and 3 May. HMRC members working in East Kilbride and Benton Park View in Personal Taxation Operations on Employer Service will walk out on a series of dates starting from 10 May read more
Care Quality Commission workers to strike (28 Apr) – PCS members working for health regulator Care Quality Commission are striking for 2 days next week. The 90 staff in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham regulate health and social care bodies across England, including hospitals, care homes, GP practices and dental surgeries, ensuring the safe delivery of services. They will take action on 2 and 3 May and will be joined by colleagues in UNISON and Unite on 2 May, bringing the total of strikers to more than 1,000. The PCS strike is part of the union’s national campaign for better pay, pensions and redundancy terms and job security read more
HMRC targeted strike dates announced (27 Apr) – In an escalation of our ongoing targeted strike action we are asking all PCS members working in Personal Taxation Operations on Employer Service in East Kilbride and Benton Park View to strike from 10-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-31 May and on 1 and 2 June read more
Action short of strike to begin at 4 employers (24 Mar) – More than 3,000 PCS members in Defra core, Forestry Commission England, Marine Management Organisation and Rural Payments Agency will take action short of strike action from 11 April as part of our national campaign on pay, pensions and job security read more
Prospect
Prospect pauses strike action after government offer meaningful talks (26 May) – Prospect has paused planned strike action in the Civil Service after the government has offered to engage in meaningful talks read more
Further public sector strikes announced in Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales (17 Apr) – Prospect union has notified both the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales that it will be taking further strike action on 11 May and 7 June read more
Prospect union members vote for further industrial action at the Environment Agency (4 May) – A ballot of Prospect members in the Environment Agency has renewed the industrial action mandate for a further six months. Staff are taking ongoing action short of a strike and will join Prospect members from other Civil Service employers in taking strike action on Wednesday 10 May read more
Further public sector strikes announced as Government refuses to negotiate with its own staff (14 Apr) – Prospect union has notified employers that it will be taking further strike action on 10 May and 7 June across its public service membership. This follows the refusal of the government to enter negotiations to resolve the current pay and conditions dispute, having instead announced a pay control of 4.5% which will further erode living standards read more
FDA
FDA pauses industrial action ballot following breakthrough in industrial dispute (26 May) – The FDA’s Executive Committee has today agreed to suspend the union’s ballot on industrial action over pay, which was due to start on Tuesday 30 May, following a formal invitation from government to enter talks to discuss the issues behind the dispute read more
GMB
Tourist attractions across London to close as workers strike today (25 May) – London tourist attractions including Tower Bridge, Old Bailey, Barbican, museums, gardens, parks and markets could be forced to close after workers voted to strike. More than 900 City of London Corporation workers will walk out for 24 hours on 25 May in a dispute over pay. Workers voted for strike action by a majority of 77 per cent read more
Asda & EG merger could make debt unsustainable (25 May) – GMB, the union for Asda workers, has responded to the merger between the supermarket and petrol station giant EG UK read more
Croydon Council Housing Department facing strike over ‘botched’ restructure (25 May) – Cash-strapped Croydon Council have been going through a series of restructures in their attempts to balance the books, but our members shouldn’t be the ones paying for it, says GMB. GMB, the union for many housing staff, is balloting its members for strike action within Croydon Council’s Housing Department. The dispute centres around a departmental restructure which will see the cash-strapped council lose income-generating services as well as affecting service provision. The union has also accused council leaders, including Mayor Jason Perry and CEO Katherine Kerswell, of ignoring a collective grievance signed by 80 staff and being deliberately evasive, with meeting minutes having been lost and formal questions remaining unanswered by HR and Heads of Service. The ballot is currently open and closes on Thursday 1 June, meaning any strike action would be set to take place later that month read more
Wiltshire Traffic Wardens vote for further strike action in ‘Fire & Rehire’ dispute (22 May) – GMB would prefer an amicable, negotiated solution, but if the council don’t compromise, we are ready for the fight, with a fresh strike mandate. GMB, the union for Wiltshire Council staff, has confirmed that members have voted for further strikes in the ‘fire and rehire’ dispute affecting many frontline key workers. The dispute has already seen Civil Enforcement Officers (parking wardens) across the county take 10 days of strike action since plans were announced in 2021 to remove a contractual uplift for unsocial hours, which would cost hundreds of front-line workers up to 20 per cent of their salaries. GMB also understands that despite denials by council bosses that ‘fire and rehire’ was ever on the table, Wiltshire Council sought legal advice from a top legal firm in June 2022, on how to use the tactic to force through this pay cut. The strike ballot closed on Friday 19 May with 100 per cent of members who voted choosing to take action, thus extending the industrial action mandate read more
Amazon accused of ‘desperate’ tactics as workers down tools (24 May) – GMB members at Amazon in Coventry will begin two further days of strike action this week, bringing the total days on the picket line to 16. This comes as Coventry Amazon workers await the outcome of their historic union recognition bid to the Government’s Central Arbitration Committee and Amazon workers in Rugeley and Mansfield vote on joining strike action. Around 700 Coventry workers are expected to walk out on the two days of strike action read more
Two more Amazon strike ballots begin (12 May) – Amazon faces new strikes at two more warehouses as GMB launches two new strike ballots today [Friday 12 May]. Union members will now vote on full and binding industrial action ballot at Amazon’s Mansfield and Rugeley fulfilment centres. The new strikes ballots follow 14 days of strike action at the retail giant’s Coventry depot, which saw as many as 700 workers down tools in the UK’s first strike at an Amazon fulfilment centre. The ballots at Rugeley and Mansfield will begin today and run for four weeks until 9 June. As many as 150 workers are expected to be asked to vote in the ballot read more
48 hour walkout begins at iconic Derbyshire glass firm (24 May) – GMB union members at glass manufacturer Pilkington Plyglass have begun a two day walkout in a dispute over pay. Workers at the firm have manufactured glass for iconic buildings worldwide, such as Dubai’s Palm Tower and the Stonehenge visitors’ centre. The company have been criticised for disparity in pay between Pilkington sites, with workers in Derbyshire reportedly offered a pay package £750 less than counterparts in other parts of the UK business. Workers will down tools on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 May read more
Durham aviation parts workers in strike vote (23 May) – A Durham factory that finished parts for the aviation industry is facing a strike vote. Dozens of GMB members at Nicholsons Sealing Technologies, in Stanley, will take part in an industrial action ballot beginning on 19 May. The vote will run until 1 June. Workers – many of whom operate heavy machinery and dangerous chemicals yet had to recieve a pay rise in April just to keep them above the new minimum wage – are angry over a ‘poverty’ pay offer. Although the offer is 6.7 per cent, that figure includes the legal rise the company was forced to give to keep workers above the National Minimum wage when it rose last month read more
Scapa tape makers strike (17 May) – Tape manufacturing giant Scapa faces industrial action after more than 50 workers voted to down tools over ‘unreasonable’ shift changes. The Ashton-Under-Lyme company wants workers – who until now have either worked early or late day shifts – to work 6pm to 6am night shifts every other week. After months of discussions, GMB Reps proposed a voluntary night shift which met the business’s needs – however this was dismissed, and bosses told workers the night shifts would be enforced from the middle of June. After a successful strike ballot, Scapa workers will walk out for the first time on Thursday 1 June from 6am to 10pm. An overtime ban will also come into force on 1 June, lasting until November read more
Further strikes to hit South London hospital trust (15 May) – GMB, the union for NHS and healthcare workers, has announced that the strike action being undertaken by their members within South London & Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) will continue for a further four days this month. The members are employed by outsourcing giant ISS as domestics and caterers within the Trust and are in dispute with their employer over wages and conditions. The workers have already taken strike action for 2 days, and will walk out for a further 4 days commencing Wednesday 17 May read more
Hartlepool metal company sacks workers after staff win pay rise (3 Apr) – A Hartlepool metal company is slashing jobs just weeks after workers won a pay rise. Just 51 days after GMB members resolved their pay dispute, the Expanded Metal Company has announced up to ten redundancies at Hartlepool. Workers were handed redundancy letters last week advising them that they are at risk of redundancy and inviting them to a meeting. Management appears to be trying to push through the redundancies within a week of first issuing redundancy notices. Despite citing a downturn in work as the reason for the redundancies, the company are advertising the role of a Finance Controller/Financial Director Designate role for 70K read more
Strike disruption looms at healthcare logistics giant Movianto (28 Mar) – GMB Union has today announced two dates of industrial action by drivers at Movianto in Coventry. The strike comes after a below inflation pay offer was made by company management at its West Midlands HQ. Movianto is a major healthcare logistics provider to private clients and the NHS. Drivers at the company are responsible for transporting essential and often lifesaving medicines, including individual prescriptions and NHS medical supplies.
The strike action is due to take place on Thursday 6 and Tuesday 11 April read more
Unison
Donate to support striking workers – As UNISON members continue to take strike action, the union is asking for donations to its strike fund
School budgets reach breaking point, so UNISON members are taking action (24 May) – UNISON members are writing to councillors to demand fair school funding. Will you join them? Schools are grappling with insufficient funding. As school budgets reach breaking point, there are inevitable consequences for the quality of education being provided to young people, as well as the working conditions of school staff read more
UNISON joins emergency protest against anti-strike bill (23 May) – Last night Conservative MPs reversed the positive changes made by the House of Lords to protect striking workers from dismissal. UNISON members, the TUC and protesters rallied outside the Westminster parliament last night to defend the right to strike. The emergency protest coincided with the government’s new anti-strike legislation, the Strikes (Minimum Services Levels) Bill read more
Council and school staff begin strike ballot over pay, says UNISON (23 May) – Staff are leaving their jobs because pay is falling ever further behind, and neighbourhoods will suffer. More than a third of a million council and school support staff across England and Wales will begin voting today (Tuesday) on whether to strike over pay, says UNISON. The wage offer made by employers to local government staff is nowhere near what’s needed to meet rising prices during the cost of living crisis, says the union. UNISON had called for an increase of 2% above inflation. Now the union is asking more than 360,000 workers it represents in the sector whether they are prepared to take industrial action. Since 2010, the value of local government pay has fallen by 25% and the offer of a flat rate rise of £1,925 falls way short of workers’ expectations and needs, says UNISON. The six-week ballot, which closes on Tuesday 4 July, includes refuse collectors, social workers, teaching assistants, librarians and many more working at 4,000 different employers. A separate ballot for Northern Ireland will open in August read more
University strikes loom unless pay increases (15 May) – Staff at nine higher education institutions vote for action. Support staff at nine universities in England have voted to strike over a “sub-par” pay offer from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), says UNISON today (Monday). Cleaners, IT technicians, library staff and other higher education workers will now decide on dates to take action unless UCEA increases its pay offer for 2023/24. UNISON says the current offer falls a long way short of inflation and staff deserve more. Staff could walk out at the University of Bedfordshire, University of Bristol, Liverpool Hope University, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Sussex, University of Winchester and SOAS University of London. The 2023/24 pay offer is worth 5-8% depending on salary, with a higher percentage rise for lower paid workers. Some of this amount – around £83 per month before tax – was paid early to staff in February to help with the increasing cost of living read more
Sign petition: Stop the closure of the Peak District National Park visitor centres! – The Peak District National Park Authority are considering closing all four of its visitor centres, making the staff redundant. Councillors will be asked to endorse the chief executive’s ill-thought out ‘money-saving plan’ which will not only affect staff but could very much harm the local economy. The visitor centres are not just shops. They are a key contributor to visitors being able to experience a safe and enjoyable time in the Peak District. This is especially the case with first-time or infrequent visitors. Far from being underused, the centres deal with around 400,000 visitors a year. Unless there is a public outcry, we will lose these centres from our national park, at a time when other national parks have rejected such ideas. Decisions will be taken from as early as May. Help Derbyshire UNISON stop them!
South Gloucestershire social workers strike over pay (4 Apr) – Staff say “market forces” supplement should be applied across the board. Social workers and occupational therapists working for South Gloucestershire Council are to strike from today (Tuesday), says UNISON. Staff will walk out for three days from today until Thursday (4 to 6 April) after voting overwhelmingly* for industrial action in a dispute over pay. UNISON has been in dispute with the local authority since last summer. This is over its decision to award staff in children’s services an additional temporary £3,000 payment on top of their basic annual salary, but not those doing the same job in adult services read more
Protest as Hackney Unison chair amongst those handed compulsory redundancies in libraries shake-up – Council staff are staged a protest on 17th May after several library staff, including Hackney Unison Branch Chair Brian Debus, have been handed compulsory redundancy notices. Hackney Unison have said it was “registering our disgust that three library workers including Hackney Unison Branch Chair Brian Debus are due to be made compulsorily redundant. This despite there being more than enough posts available in the restructured library service.” Read more on Hackney Citizen website
NIPSA
Response to the NICS McCloud Retrospective Remedy Consultation (26 May) – NIPSA is the largest Northern Ireland based trade union with over 40,000 members across civil and public services. We are the main recognised trade union within the NICS with the majority of PCSPS(NI) members also being NIPSA members. In line with our response to the consultation on the Prospective remedy for McCloud, NIPSA raised concerns that the decision by Government to withhold benefits from our members following the 2016 GAD Valuation was a disgraceful decision and that a remedy for this was not included in that consultation. Since then, these benefits have been denied to scheme members by instigating a process that would benefit the Government and employers rather than our members read more
Community Day of Action (22 May) – As part of the Day of Action led by the 36 Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships, a protest will be held at the Pagoda, Abercorn Square, Strabane, at 1pm on Thursday 25 May. The community sector in the Derry City and Strabane area is calling on all community groups, public service workers, childcare providers, schools, health service workers and all those affected by the current government cuts to join in the protest. An additional anti-cuts protest will be held at Belfast City Hall on Thursday 25 May at 1.00pm read more
Joint GMB-NIPSA-SIPTU-Unite Press Release (6 Apr) – Newry Mourne and Down council services to be heavily impacted by industrial action from April 10 Members of GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU commence work-to-rule from Monday 10th April, to be joined by Unite from 12 April Industrial action by members of all four trade unions at council proceeds after management renege on commitment to partnership-based job evaluation process Trade unions at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council confirmed that industrial action is to commence at the local authority body. The action is set to commence with a work-to-rule by members of GMB, NIPSA and SIPTU on Monday April 10 with members of Unite the union joining the action from April 12. The unions have warned that the industrial action, although confined to a ‘work-to-rule’ at this stage, is likely to result in significant impact to council services including those at leisure centres and with bin collections. The industrial dispute proceeds after members of all four unions voted for both strike action and action short of strike action in ballots read more
Royal College of Nursing
England strike ballot opens as RCN leader meets health secretary (23 May) – Members working for the NHS in England are urged to vote ‘yes’ to strike action as we pressure ministers to improve the pay award for nursing staff read more
RCN Wales announces further strike action after members reject latest NHS pay offer in Wales (10 May) – RCN Wales has written to the Minister for Health & Social Services, Eluned Morgan, seeking to urgently re-enter negotiations. Strike dates confirmed after RCN Wales members reject NHS pay offer. The results of the consultative ballot, which took place between 24 April and 10 May are: 46.79% accept, 53.21% % reject. The vote comes after members forced the Welsh government to re-open negotiations earlier this year, resulting in an improved pay offer for 2022/23 and a new pay offer for 2023/24. The RCN has called for the Welsh government to urgently return to the negotiating table and, unless a resolution is found, will take strike action on 6 and 7 June and 12 and 13 July. Strike action will run for the duration of the day shift on each day and derogations will be tighter than those in place during strike action in December 2022. All members employed where there is a mandate to strike will be called on to take strike action on these days read more
Members employed by the Care Quality Commission begin industrial action (17 Apr) – They’ll work to rule continuously until our mandate to take industrial action expires in September or a new formal pay offer is made read more
RCN opens donations to strike fund in response to public desire to support striking staff – We’ve launched a donation page for people to financially help nursing staff on strike read more
Royal College of Midwives
RCM pauses Northern Ireland strike action as pay talks scheduled (31 Mar) – Strike action set for Monday, 3 April by Royal College of Midwives (RCM) members across Northern Ireland has been paused. This follows an offer from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to meet the RCM and other unions next week to discuss HSC pay. The RCM will also be suspending action short of a strike planned for 3-10 April read more
CSP
BMA
Support the Junior Doctors strike read more
Donate to support striking junior doctors
Junior doctors in England announce June strike action after Government fails to make credible pay offer (22 May) – Following today’s talks with DHSC, the BMA has confirmed further industrial action will be undertaken by junior doctors in England. A 72-hour walkout will take place between 0700 on Wednesday 14 June and 0700 on Saturday 17 June read more
Junior Doctor pay – BMA Scotland to put offer to members (22 May) – BMA Scotland today confirmed that following extensive negotiations it will put the pay offer made by the Scottish Government to its junior doctor members in a consultative vote. The pay offer made amounts a 6.5% uplift for this year and an increase from 4.5% to 7.5%, backdated for 2022/23 – an aggregate uplift of 14.5% over two years. The Scottish Government has also committed to a Junior Doctor Pay Bargaining Review Taskforce which will have a remit to develop a new pay bargaining system that seeks to prevent pay erosion and finally ensure pay properly recognises the contribution of junior doctors in Scotland. The consultative vote on the pay offer will open in the next fortnight and will run for two weeks. BMA Scotland will adopt a neutral position on the offer, providing the relevant figures and information to members but empowering them to make the final choice. An overwhelming mandate for strike action, provided by the ballot undertaken by BMA Scotland earlier this year, remains in place for six months – ensuring all options remain open following the outcome of the vote read more
Juniors in England prepare to re-ballot read more
GPs plan industrial action if contract not revised (27 Apr) – Threat to patient safety must be removed if doctors to avoid dispute read more
NHS consultants in England to be balloted in May for industrial action (3 Apr) – The BMA will ballot NHS consultants in England for strike action from the 15th May if the Government does not meet its demands for restoring consultants’ pay and reforming the broken pay review body read more
HCSA
Outcome of consultative ballot on consultant pay in England (26 May) – HCSA’s ruling Council has met to consider the results of the recent consultative ballot on pay for consultants in England. This process saw strong engagement from members, with turnout over 60 percent. The results showed discontent among consultants has grown significantly, with the numbers supporting strike action up 130 percent compared with a similar vote in 2021 and backing for action short of a strike up 92 percent. Despite this strengthening sentiment among members, the number supporting strike action was insufficient to pass the stringent legal thresholds required to enable action following a postal ballot. The Council therefore voted not, at this time, to move forward with a full postal ballot of consultants in England read more
NEU
Examiner employment victory (26 May) – NEU wins Employment Tribunal case against Pearson Education LTD. On the 20th April the National Education Union secured a ground breaking victory for our members working as senior examiners in exam boards across the country. The NEU brought a test case to Employment Tribunal seeking worker status for one of our members working for Pearson Education Limited read more
Joint unions call for STRB publication (25 May) – Education unions call on government to publish pay recommendation. Education unions have today (Thurs 25 May) written to the Secretary of State for Education calling for the government to formally publish the recently leaked pay recommendation made by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) and to urgently re-start negotiations in the dispute over teacher and leader pay and the funding of pay awards. The letter, signed by NAHT’s Paul Whiteman, NASUWT’s Dr Patrick Roach, NEU’s Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, and ASCL’s Geoff Barton, states: “Following this weekend’s leak of the STRB’s recommended award of 6.5%, we write to you to urgently request that you re-start negotiations with us…” read more
STRB recommends 6.5% (21 May) – School teacher review body recommends 6.5% increase to teacher pay. Responding to the leaked story in the Sunday Times today stating that the STRB report will recommend a 6.5 % increase for teacher pay, Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, joint general secretaries of the National Education Union, said “Teachers and School Leaders overwhelmingly rejected Gillian Keegan’s last offer – both because it was too low and because it wasn’t fully funded. Since that rejection she has sought to hide behind the School Teachers’ Review Body saying that she is leaving it to them to make the decision on teacher pay. She now has the report and can no longer hide behind the STRB. According to the leak in the Sunday Times the STRB has recommended a 6.5% pay increase. This is significantly above the latest Government offer of 4.3% which was roundly rejected by NEU members. However, it does not make up for the poor awards the STRB has made almost every year since 2010 – leading to declining rates of pay and enormous problems with teacher recruitment and retention. Gillian Keegan must now break cover from Sanctuary Buildings…” read more
NEU re-ballot (15 May) – NEU re-ballots members in continuance of dispute with Government for a fully funded teacher pay increase. Today (Monday) the National Education Union is commencing a new national ballot of teacher members in England. The dispute between Government and the National Education Union for a fully funded pay increase which stops the decline in teacher recruitment and retention remains unresolved. Therefore, the union is re-balloting teacher members working in England’s state-funded schools. Re-balloting of our members is necessary as the current ballot is only effective as a mandate for strike action during a six-month period. The legitimacy of the current ballot ends on 13 July 2023. This second ballot, opening today and closing on 28 July 2023 read more
Unions to co-ordinate action (28 Apr) – Education unions to announce they will co-ordinate industrial action going forward – ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU. In a joint press conference taking place today (Fri 28 Apr) at school leaders’ union NAHT’s Annual Conference in Telford, the general secretaries of all four education unions will announce that they intend to co-ordinate their unions’ industrial action moving forward read more
NASUWT
NASUWT members to start strike action at Hutchesons’ Grammar over ‘fire and rehire’ (29 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow will start the first of four planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over attempts by the school to downgrade their pensions through a ‘fire and rehire’ process. The independent school, which was attended by First Minister Humza Yousaf and leader of the Scottish Labour Party Anas Sarwar, has sought to impose an inferior pension scheme on teachers and threatened them with the sack if they did not agree to the changes. The employer finally agreed to meet with unions last Friday to discuss the dispute. While some progress was made in discussing alternative options for pensions arrangements, no offer which would justify withdrawing the strike action was forthcoming. The NASUWT remains committed to further talks with the school to seek to resolve the dispute read more
London teachers strike over threats to pensions (24 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at St Augustines’ Priory School in West London are taking strike action today and tomorrow (Wednesday May 24 and Thursday May 25) as part of eight days of strike action in May and June over threats to sack staff unless they sign contracts that will leave them with inferior pensions. The Ealing school, which charges as much as £18k a year, wants teachers to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and accept an inferior pension leaving them worse off in their retirement. Members have been told they must sign new contracts or risk being dismissed from their jobs. The school’s governors are refusing to allow trade unions to be part of formal negotiations opposing the changes. This has left NASUWT members with no other option but to take strike action at the independent Catholic girls’ school read more
NASUWT responds to reports of a 6.5% pay recommendation for teachers (21 May) – Responding to reports today that the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) in its report to the Government has recommended a pay award of 6.5% to teachers, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said: “Two months ago, the Government asked us to put their pay offer to our members. Our members rejected the Government’s offer by a margin of nine to one…” read more
Jersey teachers balloted for industrial action (18 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union in Jersey are now being balloted for industrial action over pay and workload. The ballot opened on Monday (15th May) and will close on Monday 12th June. Members in all Jersey government schools (including Highlands College), grant aided colleges, and independent schools will be balloted for both strike action and action short of strike action. The ballot is the result of the failure of the States to address the years of real terms pay erosion that teachers have suffered since 2008 or to address spiralling workloads read more
Adverse management forces Swansea teachers to strike (17 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Gendros Primary School in Swansea will be taking the first of eleven planned days of strike action from today over adverse management practices which are affecting teachers’ health and working conditions. Members at the school are taking action as a result of the failure of the local authority and school governors to adequately act to address management incompetence at the school read more
Guildford teachers strike to protect pensions (17 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Royal Grammar School Senior in Guildford are taking the first of five days of planned strike action today after being threatened with dismissal from their jobs unless they agree to new contracts that would leave them with worse pensions. The Employer is seeking to impose inferior pension arrangements on teachers which would adversely affect their future financial security read more
NASUWT to ballot members for strike action (15 May) – The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is balloting eligible members for industrial action in state-funded schools and sixth form colleges across England over pay, workload and working time. The ballot for state-funded schools will open on June 5 and close on July 10. A ballot for sixth form colleges opens today (May 15) and will close on June 12. The ballots are the result of the failure of the Government to agree the NASUWT’s demand for a fully-funded restorative pay award for all teachers employed in state-funded schools and sixth form colleges in England, and to resolve the issue of excessive workload and long working hours read more
Teachers strike over variation of contracts through fire and rehire (2 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Farlington School in West Sussex are taking strike action today and tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd May and Wednsday 3rd May) as part of eight days of strike action throughout May over threats to sack staff unless they sign contracts that will leave them with deteriorating working conditions read more
Teachers at Durham High School take action over bullying (26 Apr) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Durham High School for Girls will be taking the first of three planned days of strike action tomorrow (Thursday) over bullying and intimidation by school management. Members have been subject to a long-standing culture of adverse management practices and treatment which has undermined their wellbeing, health and safety in the workplace read more
NAHT
NAHT Cymru to re-ballot members on industrial action (25 May) – School leaders in Wales are to be re-balloted in a bid to secure a fresh mandate for industrial action, which could include strike action. In March, members of school leaders’ union NAHT Cymru voted to reject an offer from the Welsh government covering both 2022/23 and 2023/24 in their dispute over pay, workload and funding. The government nevertheless awarded the 3% pay uplift offered for the current academic year, but despite its assurances this would be fully funded, concerns among NAHT members that this would not be the case have proved justified in many areas of the country. Talks have taken place over recent weeks between NAHT, the Welsh government and local government employers. But a breakthrough has so far proved elusive, with a promised review of funding for both school budgets and pay awards still being discussed and an agreement to reduce workload still not finalised. NAHT members have been taking action short of strike since January, when 95% of participants in NAHT’s first ballot supported this option – while a majority, 75%, also supported strike action. But this mandate expires in July, prompting the decision to run a new ballot, when both options will again be on the table. The ballot begins next Thursday, June 1 and will run until Tuesday, 27 June read more
NAHT responds to pay review body’s reported 6.5% recommendation (21 May) – Commenting on The Sunday Times report that the School Teachers Review Body (STRB) has recommended a 6.5% pay rise for the 2023/24 academic year, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “This simply shows how out of touch the government’s offer of 4.5% is. Education is in crisis and the government now needs to listen to the profession and let us help them solve the crisis. 6.5% would be progress but we have deep recruitment and retention issues. The government needs to fully fund the award and resolve the pay dispute for the current financial year, as well as making big changes to ease workload and inspection pressures. It must now urgently reopen serious negotiations.” NAHT this week opened its strike ballot after members rejected the government’s most recent offer on pay and working conditions read more
NAHT opens strike ballot after school leaders reject government’s offer (15 May) – School leaders’ union NAHT has today opened its strike ballot after members rejected the government’s most recent offer on pay and working conditions. Ballot papers are this week being sent to the homes of NAHT members asking one simple question: ‘Are you prepared to take part in industrial action consisting of a strike’? The union’s ballot is open until 31 July, with education unions having agreed to coordinate strike action in the autumn term if it is supported by their members and the dispute cannot be resolved. Members have to vote by post by law. The ballot is being held over four issues: pay and funding; recruitment and retention; workload and wellbeing; and inspection – specifically the impact this has on school leaders’ mental health and wellbeing read more
EIS
EIS-FELA Calls on Scottish Government to deliver rescue package for Further Education (29 May) – The national Executive Committee of the EIS-FELA has publicly called on the Scottish Government to address the crisis in Further Education through an emergency funding package read more
Teachers at Hutchesons’ Commence Strike Action over ‘Fire and Rehire’ Pension Cuts (18 May) – Teachers at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow, have commenced a programme of strike action over the school’s enforcement of damaging contractual changes to teachers’ pension entitlements. A statutory industrial action ballot, which closed two weeks ago, returned a result of 78% of teachers at the school supporting strike action, on a turnout of 86%. The EIS has called its members at Hutchesons’ out on strike in what is believed to be the first ever strike action at an independent school in Scotland read more
EIS-FELA Executive Condemns College Sector (11 May) – The Executive Committee of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) has condemned the lack of fair working practices across Scotland’s public college sector. With colleges in growing number across Scotland threatening compulsory redundancies and significant concerns regarding the lack of proper consultation in these processes, the EIS-FELA Executive can no longer accept claims by college employers that they are genuinely signed up to the Scottish Government’s Fair Work agenda. Local industrial action will be undertaken in Scotland’s two largest colleges, City of Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively, with the former seeking to cut up to 100 jobs and the latter seeking to make 6 individuals compulsory redundant. In both cases, significant concerns regarding the lack of effective and meaningful consultation have been raised by the EIS-FELA branches. National industrial action short of strike (ASOS), over pay, began in Scotland’s 26 Further Education colleges on Monday 2nd May… read more
College Lecturers Begin Industrial Action In Pursuit Of Fair Pay (2 May) – College lecturers, in all of Scotland’s 26 Further Education colleges, have begun a campaign of industrial action in pursuit of a fair pay award. Members of the EIS-FELA will engage in action short of strike (ASOS) consisting of a resulting boycott and work to rule. In the case of the resulting boycott, although student assessments will be marked, these marks will not be entered into college recording systems. The work to rule aspect of ASOS will mean that college lecturers no longer carry out duties beyond what is stated in their contract, including hours of work. If the action short of strike fails to produce a fair pay award, the EIS-FELA will consider escalating industrial action to include strike action to coincide with the new academic year in August read more
INTO
Industrial Action: Phase 4 from 8am Monday 3 April (9 May) – From 3 April 2023, INTO members were instructed to undertake additional, continuous Phase Four action. A reminder of the full details can be found in the documents below:
PHASE 4: Action Short of Strike from 3 April 2023 (pdf)
PHASE 4: Appendix 1: Expansion of Action Point 28 – Leadership Members – Non-provision of Data (pdf) read more
UCU
UCU Congress votes for England wide college strike ballot (28 May) – Members attending UCU’s Congress have voted to ballot further education colleges across England for strike action. The ballot will be launched in September and if successful will lead to strikes from October, unless employers meet UCU’s demands over pay, workloads and the Living Wage. The decision follows an e-ballot of around 18,000 UCU members at 190 college branches in which 87% of members who voted said yes to strike action. Turnout was over 50%. UCU is demanding a pay offer in excess of RPI inflation, a national workload agreement and binding national pay negotiations. Earlier this month employer body the Association of Colleges refused to make a national pay offer read more
University of Winchester staff begin strike action tomorrow in fight against pay deductions (23 May) – Staff at the University of Winchester will begin strike action tomorrow as part of a fight back against 100% pay deductions for staff taking part in the current marking and assessment boycott. The University of Winchester has announced that they will make wage deductions of 100% for staff taking part in the boycott, despite staff continuing to teach, lecture and support students as normal. Strike action will last for at least 6 days in the first instance throughout May and June. Last month, UCU successfully renewed its industrial action mandate, allowing strikes to be called for a further six months. The current marking and assessment boycott covers all marking and assessment, including that in writing, online, or verbally. The boycott will also cover any assessment-related work such as exam invigilation and the administrative processing of marks read more
University of Cambridge calls on employer body UCEA to re-enter negotiations & end marking boycott (22 May) – The University of Cambridge has called on its own employer body, UCEA, to ‘urgently’ resume negotiations with UCU so that students can graduate. The move, described as ‘hugely significant’ by UCU, was communicated via a joint statement signed by Dr Anthony Freeling, acting vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Michael Abberton, president of UCU’s Cambridge branch. UCU said it is unacceptable that UCEA is risking student graduations by refusing to negotiate, and that other universities now need to follow Cambridge and demand UCEA ends the dispute. On Thursday 11 May UCEA wrote to UCU to formally withdraw from negotiations. University staff at 145 universities across the UK are currently boycotting marking and assessments in a pay and working conditions dispute. By refusing to negotiate UCEA is putting the graduations of hundreds of thousands of students at risk read more
Staff at Manchester College and UCEN Manchester to begin strike action next week in row over low pay (12 May) – Staff at Manchester College and UCEN Manchester will take 12 days of strike action starting on Monday 15 May, UCU announced today. The strike comes after 94% of members who voted said backed industrial action in a ballot with a 59% turnout. This will be the fifth time that staff have been forced to take industrial action this year. An offer of 2.7% (the lowest for colleges in the North-West) was rejected by members against a backdrop of a cost of living crisis and inflation above 13% read more
Brighton University staff vow to strike in defence of over 100 jobs (10 May) – Staff at the University of Brighton have voted unanimously to ballot for strike action at an emergency UCU branch meeting last Friday. The meeting was called after the university announced plans to make up to 97 academic posts and a number of professional services staff redundant. UCU said the cuts could see well over 100 staff lose their jobs. The university claims it is cutting staff because it needs to make £17.9m in savings. The cuts would mean a huge reduction in lecturers in subjects including art, media, education, architecture, engineering, humanities and sport science. Yet Brighton already has one of the worst student to staff ratios in the UK and has spent over £50m on building projects in the last two years. Unless the university halts it could be hit with a strike ballot before the end of the month read more
Barnet & Southgate College strikes set to hit GCSE, BTEC & A-level exams (10 May) – Staff at Barnet and Southgate College will strike for three days from Friday 19 May in a long-running pay dispute. The strike dates will impact crucial GCSE, BTEC and A-level exams, including English and Maths. The full strike dates are: Friday 19 May, Monday 5 June, Wednesday 7 June. UCU said there is still time to call the strikes off and stop disruption to exams if the college makes a realistic pay offer. The strike comes after an overwhelming 96% of staff who voted backed taking action in a ballot to extend the union’s industrial mandate. UCU members have already downed tools for three days in the long-running dispute after college bosses imposed pay awards of just 1% for 2021/22 and 1% for 2020/21. The college has now imposed a further pay award of just 2.5% for 2022/23 read more
Strike ballot opens at Barnsley College over ‘unacceptable’ 2% pay offer (5 May) – A ballot for strike action opened today at Barnsley College over a consolidated pay offer for 2022/23 of just 2%. The ballot will run until Monday 12 June and if successful will pave the way for strike action during key admissions dates unless management comes back with a better offer. The industrial ballot comes after 97% of members who voted said they would back strike action in a consultative poll with a 70% turnout read more
Four days of strikes at Kirklees College over ‘derisory’ 1% pay award (5 May) – Staff at Kirklees College in Huddersfield and Dewsbury begin four days of strike action next week over a ‘derisory’ pay award of just 1%, UCU announced today. Staff will be on strike on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 May and will be picketing main entrances from 8am. Strikes are also set to go ahead on Monday 5 and Wednesday 7 June unless the college makes an improved offer. The strike follows an overwhelming 94% of UCU members who voted backing strike action, on a turnout of 54% read more
City College Norwich staff on strike today in low pay dispute (5 May) – Staff at City College Norwich are on picket lines this morning in a strike over low pay, confirmed the University and College Union (UCU) today (Friday). They will also be on strike on Tuesday and are demanding that management urgently raise pay to meet the cost of living crisis. Staff have already taken two days of strike action this year after the college imposed a pay award so low it ended the college’s accreditation as a Real Living Wage employer. The lowest paid received an increase of just 5.1%, college lecturers were awarded a paltry 4% and other staff only 2.5%. Since 2009 pay for college staff has fallen behind inflation by 35%, which is now 13.4%. UCU is demanding a 14% pay rise to help staff meet the cost-of-living crisis read more
Bradford College staff to strike tomorrow over low pay (3 May) – Staff at Bradford College will strike tomorrow in a dispute over low pay and working conditions. Staff will be on picket lines outside college entrances from 7am, UCU confirmed. The strike will be the first of 14 days of action unless staff get an improved pay offer and movement from management on unmanageable workloads read more
More strikes at Darlington College after staff reject ‘offensive’ 3% pay offer (27 Apr) – Staff at Darlington College will strike for two consecutive days on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 May after rejecting a lowball 3% pay offer. The union said there is still time for the strike to be halted, but that the college must make staff a realistic offer that helps them meet the cost-of-living crisis. Staff have already been on strike for three days so far this academic year after the college imposed a pay award of just 1% for 21/22 and UCU is reballoting its members so it can call further action read more
Further strike action this week at Havant and South Downs College in row over low pay (24 Apr) – Staff at Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) will strike tomorrow and Thursday in an ongoing dispute over low pay amid the cost-of-living crisis. Staff will be picketing main entrances to the college each strike day. The college’s pay award is worth just 3% for most college lecturers, who earn £30k – £40k. It also made a one off payment, which was only £400 for most staff. Inflation is 13.5% meaning staff are suffering a huge real terms pay cut. The National Education Union (NEU) will be joining UCU on both days of strike action, following strikes at the college in February of this year read more
Marking and assessment boycott to hit 145 UK universities from tomorrow, UCU confirms (19 Apr) – The University and College Union has today [Wednesday 19 April] confirmed that a marking and assessment boycott will commence tomorrow [Thursday 20 April] at 145 UK universities after employers failed to produce an improved offer in the pay & conditions dispute. Earlier this week, UCU members working in UK higher education voted to reject pay & conditions proposals agreed with employers. A marking and assessment boycott will cover all marking and assessment, including that in writing, online, or verbally. The boycott will also cover any assessment-related work such as exam invigilation and the administrative processing of marks. This is expected to impact graduations. A number of university employers have already announced that they will make wage deductions of up to 100% for staff taking part in the boycott, despite staff continuing to teach, lecture and support students as normal. The union has condemned the threats and said further strike action could be called in response. The boycott will continue until employers make an improved offer, at which point UCU will decide whether to continue the action or call it off. In the pensions dispute, the union will now move forward proposals with employers to restore benefits after 85% of UCU members voted in favour during a recent consultation. UCU has been clear, however, that it retains the right to take action if employers backtrack. Last month, UCU successfully renewed its industrial action mandate, allowing industrial action to be called for a further six months read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
Firefighters’ union hails “workers’ revolt” as protesters rally against anti-union laws (May 19) – The House of Commons have voted on the Minimum Service Levels Bill. Thousands of workers rallied outside in protest at the proposed laws. Last month, Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf declared that the Scottish Government would “not issue a single work notice” under the proposed legislation read more
Firefighters’ union calls for defiance of anti-strike laws (25 Mar) – Trade unions must build a campaign to defy the anti-strike laws being pushed through parliament by the Tories, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack has said. The firefighters’ leader said the Trades Union Congress should lead a campaign of “mass non-cooperation and non-compliance” with the Minimum Service Levels bill. An emergency congress of the TUC must be called to launch a campaign of defiance and civil disobedience against the bill if it becomes law, the FBU says. The FBU’s governing executive council has passed a resolution calling on the TUC to adopt the strategy, and to build a mass movement to resist the legislation. National demonstrations and sustained mass mobilisations can defeat the bill, the union says. Non-compliance with the bill would be one of the most significant attempts by unions to defy employment law since the 1984-85 miners’ strike. FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said the strategy of non-compliance was needed, as there was “no obvious route to challenge this attack through the courts” read more
NAPO
VLO Update (19 May) – We have met with the JES team to discuss the omissions from the job description and pleased to note it was a really constructive meeting in which they have clearly heard what has been further submitted by our VLO members and have included a lot into the draft version. They will now take it away to add in the new content and come back to us with a revised version for further comment. It is good to report back that the employer appears committed to getting this right so have pushed back the date for the completion of the annex A. More comms to follow read more
BFAWU
BFAWU members 48-hour strike at Allied Bakeries in Liverpool – this Tuesday and Wednesday read more
Foodworkers on the Breadline (9 May) – Our latest report on the impact the cost of living is having on BFAWU members is out. The short report is broken down into 2 main sections: The first section outlines our survey data. The second part presents qualitative data based on the words of our members who took part in this research, and who grimly described how the cost of living crisis is impacting on them and their families read more
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
NUJ
NUJ tribute to Dan Kay (26 May) – Joe Thomas leads the tributes after the death of the award-winning journalist who fought for truth and justice over the Hillsborough disaster read more
NUJ response to the BBC’s decision to move parts of its in-house speech audio production to BBC Studios (25 May) – The union has concerns about creeping privatisation and a lack of protection for the corporation’s public purposes in radio production read more
#SaveBBCNI BBC Northern Ireland strike (19 May) – Picket photos from today’s BBC Northern Ireland strike read more
BBC journalists to strike for 48 hours over cuts to local radio (16 May) – Members in England have rejected the BBC’s revised local radio plans and have voted for a 48-hour strike on Wednesday 7 June and Thursday 8 June. The work to rule has also been re-established. The strike will coincide with a lobby on Parliament on Wednesday 7 June. BBC members will update MPs on the NUJ campaign to keep BBC Local Radio Local and to ask them to maintain the political pressure on the BBC over proposed changes that are universally unpopular among politicians of all parties read more
Equity
Equity announces new agreement for West End theatre (26 May) – Negotiations for a new agreement in the West End have now concluded and the ballot on SOLT’s final offer has now closed. We can confirm that a whopping 94.09% of members have voted ACCEPT from a turnout of 80.35% eligible members read more
USDAW
Protect the right to strike! Usdaw joins the TUC emergency protest and urges the Government to drop their anti-union legislation (22 May) – Retail trade union Usdaw is calling on the Government to drop their Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill. Today the House of Commons will consider Lords amendments to the Bill, but the union is still calling for it not to go ahead. Usdaw has members joining a trade union demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament this evening read more
UVW
Cleaners at Mercedes Benz jubilant after threat of strike action secures pay rise (25 May) – “Receiving that letter with the news of the pay increase was truly wonderful!… To my colleagues in the other workplaces; continue the fight, do not give up, if we are able to achieve this win you can too” – Maritza Bolívar, a UVW member and cleaner at Mercedes Benz. Low-paid, migrant workers at Mercedes Showroom in Colindale, London, have won a 25% pay increase after returning a strike mandate alongside 150 cleaners, carers and concierge in eight workplaces across Greater London in June read more
We have the right to be respected, so we have come together! (22 May) – “We don’t have to tolerate or allow any kind of bullying, any kind of exploitation or any kind of ‘modern day slavery’” – José Francisco Mora Varón, UVW member and cleaner at an Amazon Warehouse. UVW members across the public and private sectors have had enough. Cleaners, carers and concierge workers have returned a massive mandate to take simultaneous strike action for dignity, equality and respect. UVW members have joined forces across the following nine workplaces; an Amazon warehouse, a Mercedes-Benz showroom, the London School of Economics, Streatham and Clapham private school, La Retraite state school, Sage Nursing home, the Department for Education, luxury apartments West End Quays and media powerhouse Ogilvy at the Sea Containers’ building read more
IWGB
Mandate (Ireland)
Thanks to Clare Hall shoppers (29 May) – Thanks to the Clare Hall shoppers in North Dublin for the terrific support they offered to the Tesco Dot.Com workers last week. It’s really appreciated by the pickers and drivers read more
Munster members urged to support ‘raise the roof’ protest in Cork on June 10th read more
Mandate awaiting legal advice on Debenhams adjudication (16 May) – Mandate Trade Union is awaiting legal advice on the Workplace Relations Commission’s (WRC) adjudication on an application for improved redundancy terms. The terms of the adjudication (Debenahams ADJ-00038906 – ADJ-00041248) were received by the union in the post this morning (Tuesday, 16 May) and the union has informed the former Debenhams workers about them read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
Cork City Council community wardens to begin industrial action on Friday (25 May) – Cork City Council community wardens will commence a campaign of industrial action, including a picket on the headquarters of the local authority at City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork, on Friday (26th May) at 9.00 a.m., in a dispute concerning the failure to have their work roles adequately evaluated read more
SIPTU Retained Firefighters to begin industrial action on 6th June (21 May) – SIPTU members employed as Retained Fire Services firefighters by local authorities across the country will begin a campaign of industrial action on 6th June, in a dispute resulting from the failure of management to adequately address a worsening recruitment and retention crisis in the service read more
SIPTU serves notice of strike action by water workers on local authorities (15 May) – SIPTU representatives have confirmed today that they have served notice of strike and industrial action on 30 local authorities around the country. Stephen Kelly, water worker and chair of the SIPTU national negotiating committee said: “We have taken the difficult step of serving notice on the local authorities. There will be a two-day strike on 7th and 8th, June followed immediately by a series of industrial actions…” read more
Other news
‘Drawing the Line’ – exhibition by picket line artist Inga Bystram – 7 days a week at The Cock Tavern 23, Phoenix Road NW1 1HB (near Euston train station). Tel: 07908330117 Insta: ingabystram
Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps
Support Lee Fowler – Another blacklisted construction worker sacked after making complaints about safety on site read more about Lee’s case
Support the ‘Murphy 4’ Campaign to reinstate sacked Unite members read more
Felixstowe 4’ protest demands justice at CK Hutchison AGM (18 May) read more
UK facing taps and pipes shortage as Warrington based GXO drivers strike over sacking of Unite rep (12 May) read more
Protest as Hackney Unison chair amongst those handed compulsory redundancies in libraries shake-up: 6pm Wednesday 17th May Hackney Town Hall Read more on Hackney Citizen website
#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement
Construction blacklisting: Evidence sought in union officials’ collusion inquiry (11 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, is stepping up its search for information into the possible collusion by trade union officials into the blacklisting of construction workers. In April 2022 Unite established an independent inquiry into allegations that some union officials may have colluded with the blacklisting of construction workers. Unite has instructed a legal team of Nick Randall KC (Matrix Chambers), John Carl Townsend (33 Chancery Lane Chambers) and Paul Heron from (Public Interest Law Centre), to examine and investigate whether any union officials from Unite or its predecessor unions (T&G, UCATT, Amicus, AEEU or MSF), were involved in the blacklisting of construction workers. The inquiry is now entering its next stage and an online portal has been launched to allow anyone who has any information relating to the inquiry to submit information read more
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. Also, check out Organise Now! – Support for new worker organising.
International
Earthquake in Turkey & Syria – union donations – The NSSN sends our solidarity to all those affected by this disaster. Many will have relatives in this country. The NSSN is affiliated to ‘Support the People of Turkey’ who has launched an appeal, including for union branches and trades councils Turkey-Syria Earthquake Solidarity Appeal
Turkey Earthquake: A preliminary report from the ground
FBU makes £10,000 donation to Syria and Turkey earthquake appeal (23 Mar)
Unison: Turkey earthquake solidarity appeal
From NUJ website – Tunisia: Khalifa Guesmi sentenced to five years in prison (17 May) – The Tunis Court of Appeal has imposed the longest prison sentence to a journalist over his failure to disclose his source read more
Diary
June
24 NSSN national conference 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, London
July
29 Troublemakers at Work Conference 2023: Friends Meeting House, Manchester – supported by Workers Can Win!, Strike Map and Organise Now!
September
10 NSSN TUC Rally Liverpool
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
