“This is class law, this is class war!” NSSN Chair Rob Williams opened up the 16th annual NSSN Conference by bringing home the imminent threat of further Tory anti-union legislation. With Sunak’s Minimum Service Levels Bill nearing Royal Assent into law, we could be weeks away from unions facing fines of up to £1million or their members being sacked, if they don’t comply with this vicious attack that means that unions have to effectively organise their own scabbing operations!
But Conference heard from the many disputes that have built the “biggest, broadest and most prolonged strike wave for a generation.” Hundreds of thousands of workers have taken to the picket lines to fight for pay rises to face down the cost of living squeeze.
From the top table, we heard from Unite National Lead Officer Onay Kasab, NAPO National Official Annoesjka Valent, RMT London Transport Regional Organiser Jared Wood and a Coventry Amazon striker from GMB as well as video speeches from NIPSA General Secretary Carmel Gates and BFAWU General Secretary Sarah Woolley. And then from the conference floor, rank and file trade unionists spoke, including those who had virtually come straight from the picket lines, such as the Unite St Mungo’s strikers, now on indefinite strike.
Conference debated the model motion (below) and unanimously voted to agree it, including supporting the NSSN rally and lobby of TUC Congress in Liverpool on Sunday September 10th from 1pm at Premier Meetings, Liverpool Albert Dock L3 4AD. This will call for the mass co-ordinated action that is needed to defeat the Tory cost of living squeeze and their anti-union attack. We encourage all union branches and trades councils to discuss and hopefully agree it.
Watch videos of NSSN Conference – Opening Chair’s remarks with brief highlights of the rally and interviews
Model Motion on Tory Minimum Service Levels Bill
This conference/union/branch/trades council recognises the ‘Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill’ is a major attack on trade union rights. Sunak’s Conservative government are attempting draconian, undemocratic measures to curtail the right to strike.
Coming on the back of four decades of brutal Tory anti-union legislation, from that of Thatcher and Major through to Cameron, Johnson and now Sunak, it is clearly designed to cut across the strike wave across all sectors, rather than tackle the causes of the cost-of-living crisis. This is another crude attempt to shift the blame for inflation onto the working class whereas every worker knows it is the bosses and their class’s profiteering, which has created the crisis.
The bill would allow employers to issue a notice to unions setting out who is required to work during a strike. This potentially leaves unions who refuse to comply open to serious financial penalties through sequestration of funds and removes workers’ protection from being dismissed for undertaking lawful industrial action.
We believe no individual union or member should be left isolated and the whole of the trade union movement must mobilise – collectively – in defence of workers’ rights.
We demand:
1. All unions and the TUC urgently call a national Saturday demonstration against the new law;
2. Keir Starmer pledges an incoming Labour government to reverse fines and other measures taken against any union under the terms of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act;
3. All employers refuse to use the provisions of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act and that a lead in such non-compliance be given by any government, council, fire authority or other employer led by the Labour Party;
4. If any union is taken to court or worker threatened with dismissal, an emergency demonstration is called and an immediate meeting of the TUC General Council be convened to organise mass co-ordinated strike action, including a 24-hour general strike;
5. The repeal of all anti-union legislation.
We support the NSSN rally to be held at TUC Congress in Liverpool on Sunday 10 September lobbying for this programme of action.
NSSN news
Plymouth NSSN Public Meeting: Sat 22nd July 8am to 12 noon
Join Plymouth RMT Branch picket at Plymouth Railway Station .
12 noon – March to Railway Club Stuart Rd Penny Cross Plymouth
1pm to 3pm NSSN Meeting
Speakers from RMT , Bakers , ASLEF , NEU so far . More to come . All welcome
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
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RMT
Mick Lynch speech to RMT AGM (27 Jun)
RMT statement on the future of ticket offices (26 Jun) – General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “There are rumours circulating online that the DfT plans to announce mass ticket office closures next week. The train operating companies and the government must understand that we will vigorously oppose any moves to close ticket offices. We will not meekly sit by and allow thousands of jobs to be sacrificed or see disabled and vulnerable passengers left unable to use the railways as a result. RMT will bring into effect the full industrial force of the union to stop any plans to close ticket offices, including on our upcoming strike days of July 20, 22 and 29 in the national rail dispute.” Read more
DLR pay update (26 Jun) – RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2023 – KEOLIS AMEY DOCKLANDS (DLR/0001/KAD). Further to my previous Circular (IR/166/23, 5th June 2023), the referendum concluded with members voting to reject the offer. The Lead Officer and negotiating team met again with the Company but despite their best efforts, no improved offer was forthcoming read more
Tube pay offer ‘nowhere near meeting the aspirations of our members’ (26 Jun) – Dear Colleagues, RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2023 – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/0001). Following a series of meetings between RMT and London Underground, management tabled the following offer in respect of your union’s demands for an increase in pay and substantial improvements to members’ terms and conditions: A one-year base pay increase of 4 per cent from 1 April 2023. While this represents a modest improvement on the previous offer of a 3.3% pay rise, it goes nowhere near meeting the aspirations of our members or reflecting the work done by you and your colleagues and nor does it address the cost of living crisis. With inflation running out of control, the offer represents a real-term pay cut. Your National Executive Committee has noted this offer and acknowledged the recommendation of your Lead Officer, following consultation with Reps, to reject it for the reasons outlined above. Additionally, your NEC also noted that attacks on our members’ terms, conditions & pensions continue, despite London Underground openly admitting a good enough financial situation that they can pay senior management bonuses. I have therefore written to London Underground formally rejecting the offer and seeking further talks in which we expect a substantial improvement to this paltry offer will be made read more
RMT welcomes Caledonian Sleeper becoming publicly owned today (25 Jun) – Rail union RMT, hailed a new beginning for the Caledonian Sleeper service, following the Scottish government’s decision to take it into public ownership from today. The union played a pivotal role in campaigning for the low carbon London to Scotland service being taken into public ownership after being poorly handled by private contractors read more
RMT to strike for 3 days in July (22 Jun) – 20,000 railway workers will walk out in July as part of the national rail dispute after train operators failed to make a new pay offer. RMT members working across 14 train operating companies will take strike action on 20, 22 and 29 July. Despite repeated statements from the union that we are willing to enter further negotiations, neither the rail operators nor the government have asked us to any meetings. The government has the mandate for the 14 rail operators RMT is in dispute with and contractually sets the negotiating parameters of those companies with the rail unions. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry…” read more
London Overground workers to be balloted for strike action (19 Jun) – RMT members working as revenue protection inspectors on Arriva Rail London are being balloted for strike action from today. Workers are being asked whether they want to take strike action over a collective grievance not being adequately dealt with and the employer refusing to follow the right procedures in the collective bargaining agreement with the union. The ballot will run from today and close on Tuesday 11th July read more
Sign the petition to support rail cleaners – RMT is stepping up its campaign for outsourced workers across our railways and today (15 Jun) we’ve launched a new petition calling on the Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper to follow the Mayor of London’s lead and introduce free travel facilities for outsourced workers on the railway. Please take a moment to sign this petition now: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/urgent-support-for-rail-cleaners. Apsana Begum MP has also tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament, which you can see here: https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/61036 read more
Station overtime ban announced (7 Jun) – Dear Colleagues, DEFENDING JOBS, PENSIONS & AGREEMENTS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2). Further to my previous Circular (IR/148/23, 24th May 2023), I wrote to LUL seeking talks in an effort to make progress over this dispute and in particular, the new rosters and staffing cuts which have been imposed on stations leading to unprecedented levels of station closures and a deterioration of members’ work life balance. The clear need for full and proper station staffing has been further highlighted by recent serious assaults on station staff. The Company responded, acknowledging some key issues which our Reps have raised including work life balance and the impact of more weekend working and extreme shifts; increased fatigue; increased station closures; the effect on other grades used to keep stations open. The Union advised that many of these issues could be resolved by adding staff back into rosters; converting CSA2 roles into CSA1 roles; increasing the number of part time weekend CSAs and the Company has agreed to talks to explore these options with a view to positively addressing our concerns. As a result, the National Executive Committee took the decision to SUSPEND THE OVERTIME AND REST DAY WORKING BAN which was due to commence from Thursday 1st June to allow these talks to take place. The mass members meeting took place on 30th May and it was the clear wish of affected members that new dates for an overtime and rest day working ban are called for Stations and Revenue Grades. The Lead Officer has consulted with your Stations Functional Council Reps and this matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee which has taken the decision to instruct ALL LUL STATIONS & REVENUE GRADES: Not to work any Overtime or Rest Day Working from 00:01 hours on Sunday 25th June 2023 to 23:59 hours Saturday 1st July 2023. These new dates allow two clear weeks of talks for LUL to engage positively with us over our demands to restore jobs, upgrade CSA2s and return weekend working to previous levels using additional part time CSAs. The Union remains ready to defend all our terms and conditions and I will keep Branches advised of all further developments read more
London Underground staff vote to extend strike mandate with huge YES vote (23 May)
ASLEF
Government’s poor response on decarbonisation (20 Jun) – In March, Parliament’s Transport Select Committee produced a report of their recent inquiry Fuelling the Future, which was looking at ways to decarbonise transport. The committee took evidence from stakeholders across the industry, including ASLEF (click here to read our submission), asking about the viability of future fuels from electrification to batteries and hydrogen read more
ASLEF: overwhelming support for continued industrial action (14 Jun) – Members of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, have voted overwhelmingly to continue strike action in the union’s ongoing national dispute over pay. Members of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, have voted overwhelmingly to continue strike action in the union’s ongoing national dispute over pay. Commenting on the ballot results, General Secretary Mick Whelan said: “Once again our members have decided, and made it clear that we are in this for the long haul. Train drivers are sick to the back teeth of their employers and the government failing to negotiate in good faith, and blaming drivers for their inability to manage services and the rail industry effectively…” read more
TSSA
TSSA calls on public to ‘vigorously oppose’ railway ticket office closures (27 Jun) – Rail union TSSA has said it will work hand in glove with the public to ‘vigorously oppose the totally unnecessary mass closure of ticket offices’ across the railway network amid speculation the government will shortly announce the move. Lobby group the Association of British Commuters has reported that the Department for Transport is likely to announce the first stage of formal public consultation as early as next week. TSSA has a long-standing policy opposing mass ticket office closures, with many members working in these vital roles. The union has previously pointed to the significantly detrimental impact such a policy would have on a number of social groups, making the railways less safe and less accessible read more
TfL Bonus scheme “Plainly unfair” – TSSA (20 Jun) – TSSA today (Tuesday) condemned Transport for London (TfL)’s “plainly unfair” bonus scheme which will see eyewatering payouts to Directors whilst the lowest paid staff receive nothing. Staff in TfL’s lowest pay band – Band 1 – have seen wages stagnate since 2016 owing to cost cutting measures brought in after TfL’s operating grant was axed by former London Mayor, Boris Johnson. This month TfL announced that it was using a £79 million “operating surplus” (profit) to award bonuses to staff in other pay bands. However Band 1 staff will receive nothing because they have been excluded from the company’s “Pay for Performance” scheme. Expected bonuses for top earners range from 30-50 per cent of salary for TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, whilst Chief Officers could receive up to 30% and Directors 20%. In many cases these bonuses are more than Band 1 staff earn in a year read more
Unite
Construction inspections falls to record low, prompting safety fears (28 Jun) – Unite, the UK’s construction union, has discovered that life-saving proactive (unannounced) inspections in the construction industry have fallen to a record low. A freedom of information request made by the union discovered that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertook only 7,647 unannounced inspections in 2022/23 a two per cent decline on the previous year when there were 7,793 inspections. Construction is the most dangerous sector in the UK and the unannounced inspections made by the HSE are critical in ensuring that employers don’t ignore safety laws and consequentially risk the lives of their workers read more
Unite leader Sharon Graham demands Britain’s politicians “step up to the plate” at Westminster steel rally (28 Jun) – Speaking at the Unite /Community union UK Steel Emergency demonstration at parliament today, Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “We stand on the very precipice for Britain’s steel industry. It’s time our politicians stepped up to the plate and took action to save our most vital of industries; how can it be that Belgium produces more steel than Britain. There has been criminal negligence in flogging off the industry in a privatisation that has proved calamitous; a private equity scam that didn’t work…” read more
Unite leader’s demand to Government and Labour: Stop putting our national security at risk by lack of investment in UK steel (27 Jun) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham is marching with steel members tomorrow (Wednesday 27 June) in Westminster to warn MPs and ministers that the time for talking is over and immediate action is required by the government to secure the long-term future of the UK’s steel industry. From hospitals to defence, it is clear that UK steel is a critical infrastructure industry and steel must be produced in the UK. We can no longer leave ourselves vulnerable. The government must act now and Labour must show clear intent. Sharon Graham will be marching to Westminster with steel workers and meeting MPs to call for urgent action to preserve jobs and ensure the future of the UK’s steel industry. When: Wednesday 28 June 11:30; Where: Parliament Square, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA read more
Unite launches local billboard campaign on steel crisis in Scunthorpe and Port Talbot (22 Jun) – On Monday 26th June, Unite will unveil billboards and digital advertisement vans in Port Talbot and Scunthorpe as part of SOS Steel Emergency campaign to save the towns’ embattled steelworks. Local steel workers will be there and can be interviewed
St Mungo’s workers stage sit-in outside the charity’s corporate style headquarters (28 Jun) – Where: St Mungo’s head office in Tower Hill, 3 Thomas More St, E1W 1YW; When: From midday on Thursday 29 June 2023. St Mungo’s workers stage sit-in outside the charity’s corporate style headquarters. A visual display with a giant banner will represent the wage disparity at St Mungo’s. CEO pay stands at £189,000 while the lowest paid workers get just £20,000. Unite will meet St Mungo’s management at ACAS during protest. Workers on indefinite strike at St Mungo’s will stage a colourful protest to highlight how CEO pay is nine times the pay of the lowest paid workers who fight against homelessness for a living. At least 150 workers from Brighton, Bristol, Oxford and London will expose the stark and shameful wage inequalities at the homeless charity read more
Callous bosses provoke St Mungo’s workers to begin indefinite strike (26 Jun) – Management indifference smacks of the corporatisation of the charity sector. From tomorrow (Tuesday 27 June) workers at St Mungo’s will stage an unprecedented indefinite strike accusing management of a shocking dereliction of duty towards the homeless and the charity’s own staff. This momentous decision has been provoked by the ongoing indifference of management who callously refuse to acknowledge the struggle front-line workers face to pay the bills. After tax and deductions frontline workers take home less than £20,000 a year. Many of the workers are now in fear themselves after being unable to pay their rent or mortgage on their current poverty wages. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Charity’s staff do not take indefinite strike action lightly but they face a desperate situation – they need St Mungo’s to listen and act. The indifference of the management to their own staff smacks of the corporatisation of the charity sector. It’s Corporate Britain plc arriving in the charity sector. St Mungos have executives on well over £100,000 a year and the same people insist their workers should exist on poverty wages with actual wage cuts.” The month-long strike ends on 26 June and the indefinite strike begins on 27 June. Unite balloted over 500 workers across southern England including in London, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Bournemouth and Reading. Unite membership has now grown to 800 since the dispute began. Unite regional officer, Steve O’Donnell said: “St Mungo’s workers are sending a clear message to the Board. Management has lost control. Their failure to take heed of the strength of feeling amongst staff is the reason for this indefinite strike. It’s time to save St Mungo’s reputation and enter into genuine constructive negotiations to end this dispute.” Read more strike fund More info on Unite Housing Workers website
Manchester Airport workers seal a whopping 17% pay deal negotiated by Unite (28 Jun) – Unite has struck a pay deal for over 2000 workers employed by Manchester Airport worth up to 17 per cent over two years plus a lump sum worth up to 9.6% for the same period. The deal was negotiated without the need for a strike ballot. Unite also successfully negotiated a further five years of protection for the workers’ who were in the defined benefit pension scheme. The deal covers workers including; firefighters, security, engineering, airfield operations, traffic marshals and car parking read more
Leicester aerospace engine bolt maker Howmet hit by pay strikes (27 Jun) – Highly profitable firm offers low paid workers inadequate ‘strings attached’ pay deal. More than 50 Leicester factory workers employed by aerospace engine bolt manufacturer Howmet are to strike later this month, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday). The workers, who earn as little as £11 per hour and an average of £12.50 an hour, have rejected a four per cent offer, plus purported pay incentives, that has more ‘strings attached than a grand piano’. Howmet Fastenings’ latest financial report shows it made UK profits of over £4 million for the year ending December 2021. US-based parent company Howmet Aerospace, meanwhile, reported that international revenue in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 21 per cent to $1.6 billion, with profits of $360 million. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Howmet may proclaim that it has put forward a generous pay offer but it is smoke and mirrors – the deal has more strings attached than a grand piano. Howmet’s workers are low paid and struggling with rising living costs, while the company brings in millions. Unite’s top priority is our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these striking workers will receive the union’s full support until Howmet puts forward an acceptable pay offer.” Howmet’s Leicester factory supplies parts to Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney. The first day of strike action will take place on Thursday 29 June, followed by a continuous overtime ban and work to rule after the strike ends. If the dispute is not resolved further strike dates will be scheduled read more
South Gloucestershire bin strike now set to last every day until September (27 Jun) – Suez bin workers begin indefinite all out strike action over ‘pay cut’ by company making tens of millions. Strikes by around 150 workers employed by Suez emptying bins on behalf of South Gloucestershire council has intensified and are now set to last every day until September. The workers began strike action earlier this month after rejecting an eight per cent pay offer from the company which, according to its latest UK financial returns, brought in profits of £80.8 million in 2021. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 11.3 per cent, this is a significant real terms pay cut. The company’s South Gloucestershire bin loaders earn just £11.53 per hour. The decision to intensify industrial action was taken after both Suez and South Gloucestershire Council ignored repeated requests by Unite to engage in talks to resolve the dispute. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Despite Suez’s claims about generous pay offers, its workers are on very low wages even though the work they do is heavy, difficult and dirty. It is a highly profitable company making tens of millions and can afford to give its struggling staff a reasonable wage increase. Unite never backs down from defending our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and Suez’s South Gloucestershire workforce have their union’s full support as they fight for fair pay.” The workers took strike action from 12 June until 18 June. Strike action beginning this week and scheduled to last until 9 July has now been extended to last every day until 3 September read more
Tory plans to increase pension age slammed amid poor life expectancy (27 Jun) – What: Unite joins forces with National Pensioners Convention at its annual gathering. Where and when: Wednesday 28 June at 4.45pm outside The Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, FY1 2HB. Unite and the NPC have joined forces to demand the Tories rule out an attack on the State Pension. Workers and pension campaigners will be in Blackpool on Wednesday (28 June) to expose Rishi Sunak’s not-so-secret plan to attack the state pension after the next general election read more
Unite secures improved pay deal for TotalEnergies workers over two years (27 Jun) – Offshore and Shetland Gas Plant members to receive 15.5% rise. Unite the union has confirmed that its members employed by TotalEnergies have today (27 June) overwhelmingly voted to accept an improved pay offer over two years. Around 70 Unite members based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms along with the Shetland Gas Plant accepted a pay deal which is equivalent to a 15.5 per cent pay increase. Unite members include control room operators, mechanical, operations and production technicians along with skilled engineers read more
Unite secures victory in campaign to save Welsh bus routes (26 Jun) – Unite the union has welcomed the announcement by Welsh Government that it is to provide £46m of funding to ensure vulnerable bus routes continue. Unite had previously warned that the withdrawal of BES (Bus Emergency Scheme) would result in the cancellation of between 35% – 45% of Welsh bus routes and hundreds of job losses across the sector. Following Unites “Back Your Bus Route” campaign Welsh Government has replaced the BES scheme with the new Bus Transition Fund. This will provide funding to Welsh Bus Operators to ensure less profitable routes continue read more
Newbury and District Bus Company branded “UK’s meanest” as drivers take action after four years of pay freezes (26 Jun) – Newbury and District Bus Company has been branded the “UK’s meanest’ bus operator after a group of drivers were forced to announce strike action after not receiving a pay rise for four years. The affected drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, were TUPE transferred to their present employer from Reading Buses in 2020 and operate a service for West Berkshire council, including operating school buses. While all other drivers at Newbury bus company have received a 5.7 per cent pay increase, the company has again frozen the affected drivers pay, blaming the increased cost of diesel, infrastructure and engineering costs. As a consequence, the drivers have overwhelmingly voted for strike action and will stage seven days of walkouts on 6, 7, 10, 14 19, 20 and 21 July. The strikes will affect bus services across the Newbury area and especially school bus services read more
Troubled waters as Scotland’s lighthouse workers take historic strike action (26 Jun) – Sea vessels moored as workers down tools in pay dispute. Unite the union confirmed that its Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) members are set to take 24-hour strike action on Monday (26 June) in a long-running dispute over pay. Around 40 Unite members including able seamen, base assistants, cooks and technicians will take 24-hour strike action beginning at noon on 26 June until noon on 27 June. The workers maintain and operate Scotland’s lighthouses, beacons and buoys at sea ensuring that vessels and ships have safe passage through Scottish waters read more
Langford Lodge workers in Crumlin to commence weeklong strike action tomorrow morning (25 Jun) – Strike follows decisive rejection of inadequate last minute pay offer with 70% majority. Solidarity with workforce has already led to cancellation of visit by client Martin Baker. Members of Unite the union working at RLC Langford Lodge Ltd, a leading manufacturer of parts for the defence and civil aerospace sector, are to commence a first week of strike action tomorrow [Monday 26th June]. Pickets will be established at factory gates at the Crumlin site from dawn and will be maintained until midnight on July 2nd. The strike is an escalation of a pre-existing overtime ban in which workers are refusing to work outside their contracted hours or answer electronic devices. The strike will shutdown production at the factory at which 200 are employed read more
St Helens NGF glass cord engineers strike over pay (23 Jun) – NGF workers angry pay offer less than colleagues received at sister company Pilkingtons sites. St Helen’s engineering and maintenance workers employed by NGF, which produces glass cord used in rubber and plastic products, will strike over pay. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the workers are angry at being offered a 5.65 per cent pay rise plus an £800 bonus that is lower than offers received by their colleagues at nearby sites. NGF is a sister company to Pilkingtons UK, whose workers at a number of sites in the surrounding region have received pay rises 6.75 per cent plus £750 and 7.5 per cent. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members are rightly angry they are being treated as second class employees compared to their colleagues at nearby Pilkingtons. Unite is now completely focused on protecting and improving our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these workers will receive their union’s total support.” The workers will stage two 48 hours strikes on 2 July and 14 July. If the dispute is not resolved strike action will escalate. The dispute also involved members of the GMB union read more
Unite to hold demonstrations at Cumberland council offices in bin dispute (23 Jun) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, will stage simultaneous demonstrations at the offices of Cumberland council as it intensifies its campaign to resolve the longstanding refuse collection dispute. When: Tuesday 27 June 11:00; Where: Allerdale House, Workington CA14 3YJ; There will also be a demonstration at the same time and place outside Cumberland council’s main offices: 111 Botchergate, Carlisle CA1 1RZ. Unite is actively encouraging members of the public, fellow trade unionists and other supportive groups to join the protests read more
Heathrow strikes end as workers accept improved pay deal (23 Jun) – The long-running industrial action over pay involving security officers at Heathrow Airport, has ended after workers voted to accept an improved pay offer. Over 2,000 security officers at Heathrow Terminal 3, 5 and Campus Security (who are responsible for checking all airside workers and vehicles) were due to take 31 days of strike action throughout the summer, however following the announcement of industrial action their employer Heathrow Airport Limited returned to negotiations and made an improved offer. Members were balloted on the new offer and accepted it. Under the terms of the deal workers will receive an increase of between 15.5 and 17.5 per cent depending on their pay banding position read more
Mahle Engine Systems workers secure pay victory (23 Jun) – Dispute over pay differences resolved as Unite wins 10.7% increase. Unite the union confirmed today (Friday 23 June) that over 120 members based at Mahle Engine Systems have secured a 10.7 per cent pay deal covering the entire workforce. Mahle management failed to apply an additional increase to the entire workforce following a 3.4 per cent annual pay increase made in January 2023. In response to the pay blunder, the Kilmarnock based workers have taken strike action over the last two months in a fight to secure pay parity. The plant makes high-quality components for motorsport engines, combustion engines and electric vehicles read more
Northwest economy needs investment for well-paid and skilled employment not job losses (22 Jun) – Seagate proposes redundancy for up to one-third of production operators the year after a $2.4 billion pay out to shareholders. In 2022 Seagate’s turnover was $11.66 billion with an operating profit of almost $2 billion. The company paid out $2.4 billion in dividends and buy-backs to the exclusive benefit of shareholders read more
Welwyn and Hatfield bin strike ends as workers secure significant pay increase (23 Jun) – Strike action affecting Welwyn and Hatfield council’s refuse collection service has been resolved following several days of strike action. The 90 plus members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, and employed by waste company Urbaser on Welwyn and Hatfield council’s outsourced refuse collection service, began strike action on Monday (19 June) in a dispute over pay. However, following talks brokered by the conciliation service Acas yesterday (Wednesday 21 June) a greatly improved offer of a 13.5 per cent pay increase was made and accepted by the workforce. They will return to work tomorrow morning (Friday 23 June)
Bank of England inflicts pain on households (22 Jun) – Hiking up interest rates is the wrong choice. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Yet again the Bank of England is making the wrong choice – inflicting pain on ordinary households across the UK by hiking up interest rates. This latest rise is nothing more than a hand-out to the banks who have already made bumper profits from 12 other interest-rate hikes. The 13th could put hundreds of thousands of mortgage holders in peril of not being able to pay their mortgage. Instead of blaming inflation on workers’ wage rises it’s high time the Governor of the Bank of England tackled the profiteers of corporate Britain. They are to blame for the current crisis.” Read more
OCS workers at Glasgow Airport vote to strike after no shift on ‘poverty pay offer’ (22 Jun) – Workers who aid passengers with mobility challenges expected to stop during busy summer season. Unite has confirmed today (22 June) a key group of workers based at Glasgow Airport have emphatically voted to take strike action in a dispute over pay, and that the initial action will occur in July. Around 70 Unite members employed by OCS Group UK Limited voted by 95 per cent in favour of taking strike action on a 91 per cent turnout. Unite’s members previously rejected a ‘poverty pay’ offer by 96 per cent which would have taken basic pay to £10.90 per hour. There has been no improved pay offer to date by OCS. Unite has further confirmed that 24-hour strike action will now start on 6 July and end the following day with a further stoppage taking place on 11 July read more
Unite to ballot A.G. Barr workers in pay dispute (22 Jun) – Strike could hit Irn-Bru summer supplies of “Scotland’s other national drink” after pay cut offer. Unite the union announced today (22 June) that its members employed by the world-renowned A.G. Barr are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay. Supplies of Irn-Bru are under threat this summer because A.G. Barr bosses are attempting to force through a below inflation pay deal. Around a dozen trucker and shunter drivers at the company’s Cumbernauld production and distribution centre are being balloted on strike action following the rejection of a 5 per cent pay offer. The offer equates to a real-terms pay cut of 6.3 per cent, based on the current RPI rate of 11.3 per cent. The ballot opens today (22 June) and closes on 6 July read more
London and South East facing summer beer drought as GXO Croydon workforce ballots for strikes over “appalling management” (22 Jun) – London and the South East England are facing a beer drought this summer as delivery drivers, draymen and warehouse operatives employed by GXO ballot for strike action over draconian disciplinary matters. Unite, the UK’s leading union, is balloting 120 members at GXO’s Croydon depot over the excessive disciplinary issues and the company’s failure to follow the existing agreement on such matters. The workers deliver to over 3,000 customers in London, Essex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The principal deliveries involve Heineken, Stonegate, Shepherd Neame and Admiral Taverns read more
Welsh Slate workers on course for strike action (21 Jun) – Unite members working for Welsh Slate Breedons, have voted overwhelmingly to reject the companies below inflation pay offer of 6%. In a ballot of the 150 workforce, workers voted by 92% to reject the pay offer. Unite will now move to a formal industrial action ballot with strike action expected to quickly follow. Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary said; “Our members at Welsh Slate Breedons are rightly demanding a decent pay rise. The 6% on offer is a real terms pay cut and way below inflation. Our members have spoken and overwhelmingly rejected the companies offer. We will now move swiftly to a full industrial action ballot and strike action. Unite will support its members at Welsh Slate 100% in their fight to get a fair pay deal”. Unite members work at Welsh Slate quarries in Cwt Y Bugail and Penrhyn Quarry, North Wales. The company has repeatedly refused to increase its 6% pay offer, despite the backdrop of surging inflation, with RPI now standing at 11.4%. The industrial action ballot is running from 23rd June to 13th July read more
Unite confirms City Parking and Glasgow Life workers balloted on strike action (21 Jun) – Trade union balloting thousands of key council workers across Scotland. Unite the union announced today (21 June) that members employed at the Emirates Arena by Glasgow Life, and City Parking are to be balloted on strike action. Around 70 workers in Glasgow across both organisations will participate in the industrial action ballots as part of the nationwide local government pay dispute. The ballots open on 28 June and close on 18 July. The trade union previously warned that a number of key events across Scotland including the Cycling World Championships to be held in Glasgow (3-13 August) could be impacted due to the dispute. Unite can confirm that if the ballot for strike action is successful, then this international event being held at the Emirates Arena is now directly under threat of cancellation unless the local government pay dispute is resolved read more
Selby bin chaos as workers strike over ‘rubbish pay’ (21 Jun) – Nearly 40 Urbaser refuse workers to walkout in June, July and August over poverty wages. Nearly 40 outsourced refuse workers in Selby, employed by waste company Urbaser on behalf of the North Yorkshire unitary authority, will strike during the summer over ‘rubbish pay’. The dispute is a result of the workers rejecting an eight per cent pay offer because they are on some of the lowest rates in the country for their roles. Bin loaders and grounds workers are paid just £10.64 an hour and refuse lorry drivers, who require an HGV license, are paid just £12.51 an hour. The workers have also been offered a bonus, but they are angry it is less than the cost-of-living payment provided to refuse workers employed in other areas of the newly formed (Conservative controlled) North Yorkshire unitary authority read more
Network Rail facing signalling delays as Unipart Rail workers in Crewe strike over pay (21 Jun) – The UK is set for serious disruption of railway signalling parts, Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned, as workers at Unipart Rail Ltd have announced strike action in a pay dispute following a derisory pay offer. The workers, who are based at Unipart Rail’s Crewe depot, have rejected a 4.75 per cent pay increase, which is in reality a pay cut, with the true inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 11.3 per cent. The workers have announced two initial 24 hour strikes on Wednesday 5 July and Wednesday 12 July. An overtime ban will also be in place from 3 July until 16 July read more
Unite members set for industrial action on Water Services Framework (20 Jun) – Water delivery workers in local authorities to down tools on Friday 30 June. Unite seeking changes to Water Services Framework including referendum commitment. Unite members involved in water delivery services around the country will take industrial action on Friday 30 June. The dispute follows members’ decision to reject the ‘Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services’ document put forward by the Workplace Relations Commission last year. The dispute centres around the failure of the local authorities and their representative association to engage with Unite concerning what the union believes to be shortcomings in the Framework document read more
Edinburgh University joiners to strike over pay (20 Jun) – Union warns of student safety concerns as 72-hour action set to start. Joiners employed by the University of Edinburgh are set to strike for 72-hours starting on Friday (23 June) in a long-running dispute over pay. Around a dozen estates department workers who are members of Unite previously voted for strike action by 100 per cent over the failure by University management to address pay disparities on campus. The trade union is highlighting that joiners, despite undertaking a four-year apprenticeship, are paid around £2,000 a year less than locksmiths who undertake training for two weeks. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The joiners at the University of Edinburgh fully deserve pay parity with other tradespersons on campus. Unite’s members provide skilled and vital work which keeps students safe in the event they are locked out their accommodation. We will support them all in the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.” A series of stoppages will take place throughout June and July with the first beginning at 8am on Friday (23 June) and continuing up to 26 June when the action concludes at 7:59am read more
BP Petrofac workers latest to accept improved wage offer (20 Jun) – 9% wage increase as long-running dispute over. Unite, the UK’s leading offshore trade union, can confirm today (20 June) that its members on BP Petrofac installations have accepted a significantly improved wage offer bringing the long-running dispute to an end. Around 90 workers overwhelmingly backed a new offer which is the equivalent to a 9 per cent salary uplift. The deal consists of three elements those being the Energy Services Agreement (ESA) 4 per cent increase, a third week’s leave paid from offshore time, and an increase to the existing retention allowance read more
Regulator of Social Housing on strike (20 Jun) – Striking for a week. There was a determined mood on the Regulator of Social Housing picket on Monday. Strike action had the Housing Ombudsman, another quango with a similar relation with the government, had been suspended on Friday following talks but the strike at the regulator continues for a week. Both groups of workers are calling on their employer to respond to the pressures of inflation currently standing at 11.4% RPI read more
First Manchester bus drivers to strike over ‘inadequate’ pay offer (19 Jun) – First Group profits soar but drivers’ pay is ‘worst in region’. Around 360 bus drivers employed by First Manchester will strike in July over an “inadequate” pay offer, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Monday). Drivers at First Manchester earn less than other bus companies in the area. First Manchester drivers earn £13.50 an hour, while Go North West pays £14.37, Diamond Bus £14.30 and Stagecoach £14. The difference in wages is expected to increase as the other companies implement their yearly pay increases. First Manchester drivers say that without a significant pay rise, chronic staff shortages and overwork will worsen at the company. The workers have rejected a 7.4 per cent pay offer backdated to April with a further 3.4 per cent in October. First Groups’ 2022 annual report, released earlier this month, shows that operating profits increased by more than £6 million to £226.8 million…The drivers voted in favour of industrial action by 96 per cent with a turnout of 75 per cent. Strikes affecting First Manchester services in Rochdale, Oldham, Manchester and Ashton will take place on 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 13 July. More strike action will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved read more
450 offshore contractors reject latest pay offer (16 Jun) – Stork workers remain in dispute with company over pay. Unite the union confirmed today (16 June) that around 450 Stork offshore members have rejected a revised pay offer from the company. A 6 per cent pay offer was resoundingly rejected by 76 per cent on the basis that it represents a real terms pay cut. Also, that offer only covered around 70 per cent of Unite’s 650 members within Stork read more
Education Authority workers in Unite set to commence first day of seven day strike action (14 Jun) – Strike follows Secretary of State’s punitive budget that has left Education Department unable to deliver pay & grading business case. Unite the union members employed by the Education Authority are set to commence seven days of strike action tomorrow [15th June]. The industrial action follows an overwhelming ballot result in which 94% of Unite members voted for strike action. The strike results from the failure of the Department of Education to implement a pay and grading review. The review would see significant increases to the pay of Education Authority workers but its implementation has been prevented as a result of the punitive budget set for the Department by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The strike involves more than 700 education workers and will extend for seven weekdays. Schools across Northern Ireland are likely to experience significant disruption as a result as Unite’s membership includes school bus drivers, escorts and maintenance workers, catering staff, classroom assistants, playground supervisors, school administrative staff, cleaners, building supervisors and ground maintenance staff. The General Secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, committed her union’s full support for the striking education workers read more
New union survey shows local government workers struggling to ‘make ends meet’. Ballot for strike action coming, following poor pay offer (13 Jun) – Unite has begun balloting thousands of members in local government in England and Wales after they rejected the employers’ pay offer. The industrial action ballot coincides with an exclusive poll of the union’s local authority members which reveals the full extent that the cost of living crisis is having on them…The industrial action ballot will be in four waves with the ballots in the local authorities where Unite has the greatest number of members beginning today (Tuesday 13 June); with medium sized and smaller authorities balloting over the next three weeks. All the ballots must be concluded by Friday 28 July. If there is a vote for industrial action then strikes could begin in the late summer read more
Strike action ‘on cards’ as Unite ballots thousands of key council workers in schools in Scotland (13 Jun) – Trade union warns that ‘same mistakes’ of last year being repeated. Unite the union confirmed today (13 June) that it is has served notice to all thirty-two Scottish councils that strike ballots are imminent in the escalating dispute over pay. Thousands of key council workers within the schools and early years services will now participate in the targeted strike action ballots. This includes janitors, cleaners, caterers, classroom assistants and administrative staff. Unite members employed by Tayside Contracts who provide catering and janitorial services to schools across Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross councils are also included in the ballot. The ballots will open on Monday 19 June and close on 31 July read more
Unite announces Xplore Dundee strike action after meaningless conciliation talks with company (9 Jun) – Blame for 12 weeks strike action lies with company management for failure to move on pay. Unite the union announced today (9 June) that around 200 workers employed by Xplore Dundee will take twelve weeks strike action in a dispute over pay. The bus workers based from the East Dock Street depot will begin the strike action from Monday (12 June) lasting until 3 September. Unite’s members recently 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 read more
Unite announces new ambulance and hospital strikes as NHS pay and safe staffing dispute intensifies (9 Jun) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has announced fresh strikes in the NHS as it further escalates its industrial action over pay and safe staffing levels. Unite’s members at the West Midlands Ambulance Service will take strike action on Monday 12 June. This will be followed by union members at the Christie hospital in Manchester and the City Hospital in Birmingham, who will take strike action on Wednesday 14 June to coincide with the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctor’s strike. Unite’s members at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service will also take strike action on Friday 23 June and Monday 26 June read more
GSK strike action escalates in pay dispute (8 Jun) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by pharmaceutical giant GSK are set to escalate their strike action in a dispute over pay. The 750 workers – who undertake a wide variety of roles including engineers, process technicians, laboratory analysts, warehouse workers and fire officers – have rejected a significantly below inflation offer of six per cent and a one off lump sum of £1,300. This is a substantially below the real inflation rate, RPI, of 11.4 per cent. The pay offer is in stark contrast to the huge salary of GSK’s chief executive Emma Walmsley, who received £8.4 million last year. It has been estimated that she only has to work a single day to receive the same pay that the employees striking receive for the entire year. GSK is an incredibly wealthy company. It’s latest financial results reveal it made an operating profit of £8.15 billion, a 26 per cent increase on the previous year. The cost of resolving Unite’s pay claim would be just 0.05 per cent of the company’s profits. GSK has said they can afford the workers’ pay claim but have decided to use the money in other areas. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a clear example of corporate greed on a grand scale. The company is hugely profitable, the chief executive is paid in millions and yet they won’t give the workers a fair pay rise. Make no mistake, Unite will be giving its members at GSK its total support. The company’s attitude is indefensible.” The strike action will involve workers at GSK’s plants at Barnard Castle, Irvine, Montrose, Ulverston, Ware and Worthing. The first strike this month will be at Ware on 9 June (full details of all the strikes in notes for editors). Further strikes will be announced in the coming days. Unite members took initial strike action in the dispute last month read more
Darchem Teesside factory to shut down during pay strikes (8 Jun) – Formula One, Rolls Royce, BAE, Hinkley Point impacted after ‘hugely profitable’ firm offers ‘pay cut’. Nearly 300 workers employed by engineering firm Darchem in Stillington, Stockton-on-Tees, will strike over pay in June and July, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday). The workers voted for industrial action after rejecting an effective 20 month pay deal that would see pay rise six per cent from February, with a further four per cent in October. With the true rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 11.4 per cent, this is a significant real terms pay cut. The deal was offered on the condition that future pay rises would then be negotiated from October of each year, rather than February, meaning workers would have to wait a year and eight months for their next annual pay rise. Darchem, owned by the US-based TransDigm Group, is an extremely profitable company that makes a range of products for the automotive, aerospace, energy and shipbuilding industries. The company’s latest financial returns show it had a turnover of over £108 million in 2021. During the same year, operating profits increased by 53.3 per cent to £25.3 million pounds read more
Allerdale bin strike to continue as peace talks collapse (7 Jun) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned that the long running refuse collection strike in Workington and the surrounding area will continue indefinitely. The workers, who are employed by Allerdale Waste Services, which is 100 per cent owned by Cumberland council, have been on all-out strike since 16 May in a dispute over pay. This week, the workers, who are members of Unite, unanimously rejected Allerdale Waste’s latest offer as it did not address the pay issue. Talks were held yesterday (Tuesday 7 June) between the union and Allerdale Waste/Cumberland council. Management became hostile when Unite informed them their offer had been rejected and then the talks collapsed as management refused to consider the union’s counter proposal ‘as it was not on the agenda’ read more
Drax materials handling workers to begin pay strikes (7 Jun) – Around 100 Hargreaves workers being ‘ripped off’ over shift pay. Around 100 Hargreaves workers employed in a technical materials handling capacity at Drax power station in Selby in Yorkshire, will begin pay strikes later this week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Wednesday). Workers employed directly by Drax performing the same role are paid £16,000 a year on top of their base pay for working shifts – ten times the around £1,600 a year Hargreaves staff receive for shift work. The pay deal currently on offer from Hargreaves, which includes an eight per cent increase in the workers’ basic rate, does not address the disparity in shift pay. It is also a real terms pay cut, with the real rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 11.4 per cent. In the six months to November 2022, Hargreaves made profits before tax of £18.7 million. The firm’s highest paid director has also received a 26.8 per cent pay increase to £246,000 a year. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hargreaves is an extremely profitable company and can afford to pay these workers properly. It is disgraceful that they are being treated as second class employees compared to their colleagues employed directly by Drax. This needs to change. Hargreave’s workers have their union’s unflinching support as they strike for a fair wage rise and proper shift pay.” The workers will stage an initial 24-hour walkout beginning at 19.00 hrs on Sunday 11 June. Strike action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved. Strike action could impact electricity generation operations at Drax read more
Hayle Maen Karne protest to be held over company’s ‘disgraceful’ union-busting (6 Jun) – Demonstration supporting HGV drivers striking for union recognition. A protest will be held in Hayle in Cornwall on 7th June against concrete product supplier Maen Karne, whose HGV mixer drivers are striking over the company’s refusal to recognise their union. Pictures and video of the protests will be available on request. The workers requested a voluntary recognition agreement from Maen Karne, owned by the GRS Roadstone group, on behalf of Unite to allow for collective bargaining over pay and conditions, which was rejected. The drivers deliver fresh concrete across Cornwall and began strike action on 30 May, with the current round of industrial action set to last until Friday 9 June. If the dispute is not resolved strike action will escalate, causing further delays of concrete to construction sites across Cornwall read more
Striking workers attend first meeting of newly-elected Belfast City Council to raise need for inflation-proof pay increases (6 Jun) – Unite the union delegation demands politicians take the side of workers in coming strike wave. A delegation from Unite the union, including striking workers at the Dunmurry-based manufacturer Survitec, has addressed the first meeting of the newly-elected Belfast City Council [last night, 5th June]. The delegation warned councillors of an impending wave of strikes across Belfast as workers were forced to take strike action to win inflation-proof pay increases. The union has just confirmed that workers at Lisburn-based Creative Composites has voted by 100% on a 100% turnout for strike action on pay as well. Unite the union General Secretary Sharon Graham congratulated the striking Survitec workers on their initiative read more
South Gloucestershire facing ‘stinky summer’ during bin strikes (30 May) – Around 150 Suez bin workers angry at ‘pay cut’ while company rakes in millions. Around 150 workers employed by Suez emptying bins on behalf of South Gloucestershire council are to strike in June and July over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday). The workers voted to strike by 89 per cent after rejecting an eight per cent pay offer from the company, which, according to its latest UK financial returns, brought in profits of £80.8 million in 2021. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 11.4 per cent, this is a significant real terms pay cut. The company’s South Gloucestershire bin loaders earn just £11.53 per hour. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Suez is an extremely profitable company but is offering these workers a real terms pay cut during the worst cost of living crisis in generations. “Unite’s total focus on defending our members’ jobs, pay and conditions will ensure that Suez’s workforce have their union’s absolute support in fighting back against their employer’s greed.” The workers will strike from 12 June until 18 June and again from 26 June until 9 July. If the dispute is not resolved, industrial action will intensify over the summer 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
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
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 Update from CWU
We want to start this update by thanking members and representatives for your support during what has been the most challenging period in the history of Royal Mail Group. After reaching agreement with the employer, it became apparent that the local working environment would remain challenging without an immediate and visible shift in approach from the company at all levels. On this basis we postponed the members vote on the national agreement to enable us to enter further discussions, covering:
– The crucial need to restore quality of service and USO compliance in every local office.
– To achieve the above the need for Royal Mail to work with the CWU and commence the process of reviewing failed revisions.
– The need for all delivery offices to have sight of their proposed start and finish times prior to the ballot.
Additionally, as previously explained, we have continued to explore the opportunity for an additional lump sum payment.
We are pleased to confirm progress has been made in all of these areas.
1. We have agreed a joint statement on section 2.5. A copy can be viewed here https://www.cwu.org/…/RMG-CWU-JOINT-STATEMENT-%E2%80%93…
The statement confirms the full restoration of the Industrial Relations Framework, a commitment to restore quality of service and USO compliance in every office and crucially – our reps are back at the negotiating table. To support the roll out of the joint statement an online event will be held at 0800 on Wednesday 21st June for every CWU representative and operational manager in the UK. We will also hold a CWU National Briefing next week. Further details on this will be shared in due course.
2. We have clarified further the position on later starts and finishes with the employer.
This includes details on how we will work together to further mitigate the impact of these plans locally and nationally. This position and an online form to find out proposals for your office can be found here https://www.cwu.org/national-agreement-proposed-start…/
Please take the time to read the joint statement on later starts prior to checking your office proposals https://www.cwu.org/later-starts-joint-statement/
3. We have secured an additional lump sum payment of at least £900 which will be paid upon ratification of the agreement. This is in addition to the already agreed £500 lump sum and any back pay you will be due from the 6% pay award from April 2023.
Details of the payment and the background to it can be found here https://www.cwu.org/pensions-statement
On the basis of the above the Postal Executive have now agreed for the members ballot on the Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement to go ahead. The revised timetable is as follows:
Ballot Papers dispatched Thursday 22nd June.
Ballot closes Tuesday 11th July.
We will now undertake an extensive engagement plan in the lead up to the ballot including live events, podcasts, videos, and written communications.
Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward General Secretary
Andy Furey Acting Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
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Near unanimous ‘YES’ to Airwave pay deal worth 5.3% in ballot number two (21 Jun) – Members in Airwave have overwhelmingly accepted a fully consolidated single-year pay deal which delivers across-the-board increases of 5.3% plus a commitment by management to work with the CWU to address a range of employee bugbears. The company’s ‘full and final’ offer – which had previously been rejected by a 66% of those voting in an earlier ballot in April amid simmering discontent over a number of unrelated workplace issues – sailed through with a 97% ‘YES’ vote in a second ballot which closed last Friday. That follows the company’s agreement to ongoing talks, which have already got underway, to deal with employee concerns ranging from a lack of training opportunities to a desire for more flexible working arrangements – including opportunities to work from home where appropriate read more
Resounding ‘YES’ to SPS pay offer worth a minimum of 10.1% for all (21 Jun) – Members working for SPS in BT mailrooms have voted by nine-to-one to accept fully consolidated pay rises worth 13.5% for those paid under £11 an hour – and 10.1% for everyone else. An impressive 90% of those participating in a consultative ballot which closed this morning (Wednesday) gave their unequivocal endorsement to the CWU-brokered deal which applies to all those whose roles are in scope of the Recognition Agreement for the purpose of collective bargaining on pay 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
New strike dates announced at British Museum (28 Jun) – As part of our ongoing targeted strike action we are asking all PCS members working at the British Museum to strike on 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 July. The action is part of our national campaign over pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms which began in November. And despite the UK government’s recommendation for all employers to pay staff a non-consolidated £1,500 lump sum in recognition of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the British Museum is currently refusing to do so read more
Less Flexibility, More Working Hours in HMRC (28 Jun) – We advise members not to sign-up for CSG’s ‘Guaranteed Extra Hours’ plan. An announcement about offering staff “Guaranteed Extra Hours” in Customer Services Group (CSG) has been made without any meaningful consultation with PCS, and forms the third HMRC initiative this year aimed at wringing yet more out of an already under-pressure workforce read more
Join a pay meeting (23 Jun) – Members’ meetings are continuing online and in-person over the next week where you will be updated on the revised UK government pay proposals for the civil service. Lots of meetings have already taken and your branch should be contacting you to let you know when your meeting will take place and whether it is on line or in person read more
Survey of court security officers shows cost-of-living crisis struggles (21 Jun) – As we hold a strike ballot for security officers working for OCS in courts across England and Wales in a dispute over pay, terms and conditions we reveal the results of a survey which show the impact the cost-of-living crisis has had on members. Shamefully facilities management company OCS has tabled a proposal that fails to support our members through a cost of living crisis not of their making 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 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
GMB
Thames water collapse show industry is ‘house of cards’ (28 Jun) – Gary Carter, GMB National Officer, said: “The potential collapse of Thames Water is indicative of the failure of the water industry’s ownership model. The chickens are coming home to roost. Thames Water’s employees and contractors now need a categorical assurance that their pay, pensions, and conditions will be protected. Forty years since privatisation and we’ve seen almost no investment in infrastructure and the workforce while shareholders and fat cats drain fortunes from the industry. Ministers and Ofwat have been asleep at the wheel while executive pay at Thames ballooned, and the company’s debt to asset ratio rose to a totally unsustainable 10:1. This vital public resource has been bled dry by private equity parasites – with interest rates skyrocketing the whole thing is a house of cards waiting to collapse. “It’s crystal clear the privatisation experiment has been a devastating failure. “We need to get our water industry back into public hands now.” Read more
Hospital workers march on Downing Street (28 Jun) – GMB members have been taking a campaign of industrial action since April, taking in a dozen days of strike action. The members are employed by ISS and work as caterers and cleaners across the four hospital sites operated by South London & Maudsley NHS Trust. The dispute centres around pay, terms and conditions, as these members have had pay rises withheld for years, as well as facing site closures, increasing workloads and bullying managers read more
Week-long hospital strike to go ahead as talks fail (22 Jun) – GMB, the union for hospital staff, can confirm that the industrial action scheduled next week across South London & Maudsley NHS Trust will go ahead as planned. Talks between the union and ISS who employ the members broke down yesterday [Wednesday 21 March], with the company failing to offer an improved hourly rate of pay. The union members are employed as domestic and catering staff in the four hospital sites across South London. The strike action will commence on Saturday 24 June and last for seven days, with the members having taken six days of action already in the dispute read more
Steel workers to march on Parliament (27 Jun) – When: 10:30am on Wednesday 28 June 2023 on Trafalgar Square marching to Parliament Square for 11:00am. Where: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN; Hundreds of steel workers are set to march on Parliament as new GMB figures show almost 150,000 steel jobs have been lost. Between 1981 and 2021, a total 146,500 steel jobs have gone, 79 per cent of the entire sector. Workers from as far afield as Hartlepool and Port Talbot will march from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square calling for a proper industrial strategy and relief from the energy costs that are crippling the steel sector read more
Asda boss denies using fire and rehire despite 7,000 facing threat (27 Jun) – An Asda boss has told a parliamentary committee the supermarket does not use fire and rehire tactics, despite 7,000 workers currently threatened with the sack if they don’t accept a pay cut. When asked about the Asda workers facing fire and rehire, Chief Commerical Officer Kris Comerford told the Business and Trade Committee today ‘fire and rehire tactics are not something ASDA employs’. Meanwhile thousands of Asda workers across 39 stores in the South East southern England are set to lose location-based pay supplements and be paid less for night shifts and face dismissal if they refuse to agree. GMB is now calling on the committee to recall Asda bosses and get clarity for thousands of GMB members in fear for the jobs read more
Croydon housing and homeless department workers strike over cuts (27 Jun) – Slashing jobs in this service raises severe concerns around safeguarding, provision and remaining legally compliant, says GMB
Croydon Housing and Homelessness Department workers have voted to strike over the current restructure plans. GMB members at the authority will walk out on 28 and 29 June after a 94 per cent majority voted to walk out. Workers are worried and angry over a restructure across this vital department. Croydon Council declared bankruptcy for the third time in November 2022 read more
St Helen’s glass factory faces strike (26 Jun) – A St Helen’s glass cord manufacturer faces industrial action over pay. More than 170 workers at NGF Europe have voted to down tools following a final offer from the company of 5.65 per cent plus as £850 non-consolidated payment. Workers at other nearby NGF sites have been given a 6.75 per cent pay rise. Initial strike dates are as follows: 0600 2 July – 0600 4 July; 2100 8 July – 2100 10 July;
2100 13 July – 2100 14 July. A majority of 90 per cent of GMB members who voted supported strike action read more
Amazon faces Prime week strikes in next wave of industrial action (26 Jun) – Amazon faces strikes during Prime Week after GMB members at the company’s Coventry fulfilment centre voted for more walkouts. Workers will walk out on Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 July – during one of Amazon’s busiest weeks of the year. Almost 900 workers are anticipated to join the strike action and will bring the total strike days at the retail giant to 22 read more
Leicestershire on brink of bin chaos as strike dates set (20 Jun) – GMB Union has today [Tuesday 20 June] announced dates for refuse strikes at Blaby District Council. Over fifty refuse and grounds maintenance workers will down tools for four days, on Wednesday, 28 June and Wednesday 5, 12 and 19 July. The strike comes in the wake of a dispute on pay with the council, which saw staff advised to use food banks if unable to pay their bills read more
Serco allowing ‘waste to pile high’ as Sandwell refuse strike enters third week (20 Jun) – GMB union has today urged action from outsourcing giant Serco as Sandwell refuse workers enter their third strike week. The calls come as the union has requested urgent talks with Council leadership following Serco’s refusal to negotiate with representatives of Sandwell’s refuse workers read more
Coventry Amazon workers vote to extend strike for six months (14 Jun) – History-making Amazon strikers in Coventry have voted for six more months of industrial action as the biggest walk out of the dispute so far took place today [Wednesday]. Almost 800 Amazon Coventry workers are on strike today, with nearly 500 joining the picket line – the 19th day of industrial action. A 99 per cent majority voted to extend the industrial action, on a turnout of 54 per cent. Amazon workers from Coventry are also in Parliament to meet MPs today, including members of the Shadow Cabinet. Government Ministers, including Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, have been invited. Meanwhile GMB Senior Organiser Amanda Gearing gives evidence about Amazon workers’ struggle to the Human Rights (Joint Committee) hearing. GMB union was forced to withdraw its bid for recognition at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse, accusing the shopping giant of “dirty tricks”. The union claimed it had surpassed the number of members needed to secure recognition at the site – but that Amazon had taken on 1,000 extra staff to scupper the bid 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
Hinkley, EDF & Rolls Royce supplier faces strike (9 Jun) – Workers at a Hinkley Point C, EDF and Rolls Royce supplier have voted to strike after turning down a pay deal. More than 150 platers, welders and sheet metal workers at Darchem Engineering, in Stockton-Upon-Tees, will walk out for seven days follows: 22 June, from 6am for 24 hours, 27 June, from 6am for 24 hours, 29 June, from 6am for 24 hours, 4 July, from 6am for 24 hours,
6 July, from 6am for 24 hours, 11 July, from 6am for 24 hours, 13 July, from 6am for 24 hours. Workers turned down a pay deal of 6 per cent from 1 February, with a further 4 per cent from 1 October read more
Solihull parks and cemetery workers to strike (2 Jun) – Solihull parks and cemetery workers are set to strike in a pay dispute. Dozens of ground maintenance crews working for contractor IDverde will walk out for two weeks from 3 July and 10 July. A strike ballot, which closed today (Friday) saw 100 per cent vote for strike action on a 70 per cent turn out. Workers are angry because IDverde – who took over the contract from Amey last year – are trying to impose a real terms pay cut read more
Park workers striking across Merton and Sutton (30 May) – Industrial action over pay set to disrupt annual cricket tournament this week, along with the plans of many local people. GMB, the union for public services, is warning of huge disruption to the parks within the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton as their members take strike action today and tomorrow [Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 May]. Parks workers outsourced to Idverde are taking two days’ strike action after unanimously rejecting the 2.5 per cent offer the company made them. The union members carry out a number of roles connected to the maintenance of parks, including landscaping, litter picking and opening and locking the parks. This action will therefore mean that parks risk not being opened up at all and is set to disrupt the running of the International Masoor Cricket Tournament, due to begin today in Merton read more
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
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
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
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
Unmanageable probation workloads putting the public at risk, warn unions (26 Jun) – Probation can and must do better with the right levels of investment. Soaring workloads in the probation service are putting the public at risk, unions warn today (Monday). Napo, UNISON and GMB, which represent staff working in the probation service in England and Wales, say crippling workloads will lead to a catastrophic breakdown of the service if the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not intervene read more
UNISON seeks judicial review of home secretary over Windrush (22 Jun) – Suella Braverman has abandoned the commitment to key measures that would prevent another Windrush scandal read more
Still time to vote on HE pay (20 Jun) – The higher education ballot is open until 31 July read more
Blog: Dig out that red envelope and vote ‘yes’ for strike action (20 Jun) – We need all of you to have your say, so we can smash through the restrictive anti-trade union ballot thresholds. If you’re a member in England or Wales and you work for a council or in a school, you have just two weeks left to vote for strike action. It’s a critical ballot in our dispute with your employers over pay, and the decision to take strike action is in your hands. Every single vote matters read more
EA workers renew strike mandate (31 May) – For the second time in this dispute over the 2022/23 pay offer, members at the agency voted to take industrial action. UNISON has announced that Environment Agency members have secured a mandate for strike action over the next six months after the recent industrial action ballot. The new mandate marks a continuation of the dispute, begun last year, where EA members voted for strike action over pay for the first time in the agency’s history read more
South Gloucestershire workers continue strike dispute (31 May) – Social workers and occupational therapists are taking their fourth and fifth days of strike action this week. Social workers and occupational therapists (OTs) working for South Gloucestershire council are to strike twice this week. Staff will walk out for two days of action, today (Tuesday) and again on Thursday (1 June) after voting overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay. UNISON has been in dispute with the local authority since last summer. The new dates follow three days of strike action in April 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!
Protest as Hackney Unison chair amongst those handed compulsory redundancies in libraries shake-up – Council staff 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
NI Civil Service Pay Protest: Wednesday 28 June (5 Jun) – NICS Pay: My Article of 10 May gave a brief overview of the current situation in relation to the punitive budget set by the Secretary of State and our continuing pay campaign which includes the lobbying of the political parties. There is no doubt that the points raised by NIPSA are being echoed in statements made by political parties. As previously advised, the ongoing delay in a return to an Assembly has made it difficult for us to make progress on pay. As part of our campaign, I wrote to the Secretary of State to seek a meeting. The Northern Ireland Office has eventually responded to my letters, but the response puts the onus for resolving pay back onto local parties. It does not address the budget cuts and crisis created by Westminster, nor the failure to provide enough money to resolve the pay claims for civil servants and other public sector workers. For that reason, the Civil Service Executive Committee has agreed that we need to bring more pressure to bear on the Secretary of State to make the money available. The letter from the NIO states that they wish “to continue to ensure that civil servants are best supported in the vital work across public services”. We need to put pressure on them to put money behind that statement. To mark the imposition of the derisory and insulting award which will be implemented in June, the Executive Committee has called a protest on Wednesday 28 June. The protest will take place from 12.30 – 1.30pm at the Northern Ireland Office, Erskine House, Chichester Street, Belfast. At the next Civil Service Executive Committee meeting on 26 June, there will be further strategic discussion about the dispute and about our action short of strike action and possible selective action 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
NHS strike ballot: the results are in (27 Jun) – More than 100,000 RCN members voted for further strikes across England, but oppressive laws mean this isn’t enough for nursing staff to take more industrial action in their fight for fair pay. The RCN will continue to put pressure on the UK government to deliver fair pay for nursing in England but turnout in our statutory strike ballot didn’t surpass the 50% legal threshold required to take action. In the ballot, more than 100,000 members voted in favour of strike action – around 84% of the total number of people who voted. To clear the turnout threshold, approximately 140,000 ballot papers needed to be returned in the post and only 122,000 were received by the closing date of Friday 23 June. With an overall turnout of 43%, the ballot didn’t reach the required threshold dictated by the 2016 Trade Union Act for a strike mandate to be achieved. RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “To every one of you who took part, whether by voting or encouraging others to, thank you. We have so much to be proud of. “While the vast majority of members who returned their ballot papers voted in favour of strike action, we didn’t meet the 50% turnout threshold necessary for us to be able to take further strike action. “While this will be disappointing for many of you, the fight for the fair pay and safe staffing our profession, our patients, and our NHS deserve is far from over…” read more
RCN Wales pauses July strikes after securing formal talks with the Welsh government (27 Jun) – As a result, the upcoming RCN Wales statutory ballot, due to open on 3 July, will also be put on hold 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
Majority of Manx Care nurses vote to strike and reject latest pay offer (23 Jun) – Eighty per-cent (80%) of Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members who responded to the ballot for strike action, have voted in favour 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
Northern Ireland pay: members urged to vote now (13 Jun) – Physiotherapy staff in Northern Ireland are being consulted to see what the CSP’s next steps should be on pay. There has been no enhancement for 2022/23 and no offer made for 2023/24. The consultation will be open until Monday 3 July. A pay deal has been implemented in England, Wales and Scotland. In all three countries work is underway on the non-pay elements of each of the deals read more
BMA
Support the Junior Doctors strike read more
Donate to support striking junior doctors
BMA calls on Government to come forward with credible pay offer for consultants in England and avoid strikes as senior doctors vote yes for (27 Jun) – The BMA’s consultants committee is calling on the Government to present a credible pay offer for consultants in England, and to commit to meaningful reform of the broken pay review process, in order to avoid strikes by senior doctors after members voted yes to industrial action. More than 24,000 consultants in England voted in the BMA’s ballot (a turnout of 71%), with 20,741 (86%) voting for industrial action read more
Consultants in England vote YES to take industrial action (27 Jun) – BMA Consultant members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action. The consultant ballot results are as follows:
Turnout: 71.08%
Number entitled to vote: 33,915
Number of votes cast in the ballot: 24,106
Number of YES votes: 20,741 (86.08%)
Number of NO votes: 3,354 (13.92%)
Number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned: 11
This result demonstrates the strength of feeling among consultants: there is absolutely no justification for consultants today being valued a third less than they were 15 years ago. It also sends a clear sign to Government that our pay must be fixed now and for the future. Unless Ministers come back to us with a credible offer, we plan to call 48 hours action 7am on Thursday 20 July. Guidance to come in the following days read more
Junior doctors to hold longest strike yet in July – Junior doctors in England have announced a new five-day walkout in July – the longest yet – over pay. The strike will take place between 07:00 on Thursday 13 July and 07:00 on Tuesday 18 July. The British Medical Association (BMA) union, which represents doctors, said a government offer of a 5% rise was not “credible” and that pay has not kept up with inflation read more on BBC website
Junior doctors vent frustration on Government pay stance (21 Jun) – Doctors gather for the NHS ConfedExpo where they speak out about moving abroad and remuneration read more
‘If we do nothing, nothing changes’ – Junior doctors forced to take industrial action for a third time owing to pay erosion (16 Jun) – For all the cheers and camaraderie at the BMA rally in Oxford, none of the junior doctors taking part wanted to be there. Yet, three months in to their industrial action, they feel they have no choice but to press on. On the first day of their latest 72-hour strike on 14 June, the message from the doctors and placards assembled in Bonn Square was clear: We have no option but to strike. Things cannot go on like this read more
FPR: an update and why we need your views on pay (15 Jun) – The BMA Wales junior doctors committee co-chairs provide an update on the campaign for FPR (full pay restoration) in Wales as well as details of how members can have their say in the latest pay survey read more
Scottish junior doctors reject pay offer and call strike dates (13 Jun) – Scottish junior doctors have voted conclusively to reject the pay offer made by the Scottish Government. The leadership of BMA Scotland’s junior doctor committee today confirmed three days of strike action will take place on July 12th– 15th unless an improved offer that the BMA believes could credibly be put to members is put forward by Scottish Government. The results of the consultative vote saw 71.1% vote to reject the offer. The turnout was 66.3% 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
Guidance for HCSA Consultant AND SAS members for BMA strike days (28 Jun) – HCSA has produced the following guidance for consultant and SAS members on how planned BMA consultant strikes will affect your work. This is preliminary guidance but as further detail emerges, HCSA will update this page read more
Response to BMA Consultant ballot result (27 Jun) – Following the result of the BMA ballot of consultants, hospital doctors’ union the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has urged the government to seize the current window of opportunity and reach a deal for senior doctors read more
HCSA Scotland urges health secretary to reopen talks after members vote no to pay offer (13 Jun) – HCSA Scotland – the hospital doctors’ union has today urged Health Secretary Michael Matheson to reopen pay talks after 67% of its junior doctor members voted No to the latest offer. A member consultation which concluded this week rejected Scottish Government’s pay offer for junior doctors, paving the way for strike action by HCSA Scotland members in coming weeks. HCSA Scotland junior doctor members voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a formal ballot last month read more
NEU
NEU Executive schedules further strike action (17 Jun) – The National Executive of the National Education Union has agreed two further days of strike action this term. The days of action will be on Wednesday July the 5 and Friday July 7. These strike days are covered by an existing ballot of members, which closed in January. Legislation requires that after six months, the ballot is renewed. The NEU’s re-ballot for strike action opened on 15 May and will close on 28 July. In parallel to this, the education unions ASCL, NAHT and NASUWT are also balloting members in pursuance of improved pay and funding for teachers in England. The NEU reballot and the ballots by the other unions will allow coordinated action in the Autumn term if there is no settlement to the dispute 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
NASUWT
NASUWT announces further strike action at Hutchesons’ Grammar over pensions (27 Jun) – Members of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow will be taking a further six days of strike action in August and September following the decision of the school to renege on plans to delay the compulsory transfer of teachers’ pensions to a new scheme. Members will take strike action on 29th, 30th and 31st August and 5th, 6th and 14th September. After initially agreeing to delay any transfer of teachers from the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS) to the schools’ alternative defined contribution scheme, last week the school backtracked and stated it intends to go ahead with the transfer from the start of the new academic year in August. The NASUWT has been in dispute for many months with the school over the transfer of teachers’ pensions. NASUWT members have already taken two days of strike action in May read more
Teachers across Swansea vote for industrial action (26 Jun) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union across Swansea have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over adverse employer practices, threats to job security and the failure of Swansea Council to comply with existing collective agreements. In the ballot 92% of members voted to support strike action and 96% voted to support action short of strike, based on a turnout of 59% read more
Barnet teachers strike over workload and working conditions (21 Jun) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Mill Hill School in North London are taking the first of seven days of planned strike action tomorrow (Thursday) over workload and working conditions. The school is pressing ahead with changes which will increase teachers’ workload and is also cutting paid time off for staff to care for sick children and for key dates of religious observance read more
Teachers at Coventry School Foundation take further strike action over pay (13 Jun) – Members of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at the Coventry School Foundation (BKHS Bablake Senior, BKHS Bablake Prep, BKHS King Henry VIII Senior and BKHS King Henry VIII Prep) are taking two further days of strike action tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday over pay. Members are now facing a second successive significant pay cut. Following the imposition of a pay award for 2022/23 that was significantly below inflation, employers have made a pay offer for 2023/24 which once again represents a real-terms pay cut read more read more
Trade dispute – sixth form colleges (13 Jun) – In ballots of teachers in sixth form colleges, NASUWT – the Teachers’ Union, has today issued notice to the Education Secretary and employers of potential national industrial action, including strike action and action short of strike action across sixth form colleges in England. NASUWT members in 56 sixth form colleges secured ballot mandates with 87.6% of eligible members voting to support strike action and 93.7% voting in support of action short of strike action based on an overall turnout of 64.9% 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
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 secures new mandate for continued industrial action (28 Jun) – School leaders in Wales have supported continuing industrial action, which could escalate to strike action. NAHT Cymru members have been taking action short of strike since February in their dispute over pay, workload and funding. In March, they voted to reject an offer from the Welsh government covering both 2022/23 and 2023/24. The union launched a reballot of its members on June 5, to renew its mandate for industrial action, which was due to expire in July. And they have overwhelmingly backed continuing their industrial action, with 95% supporting continuing action short of strike, and 74% prepared to strike if necessary. The government has 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 read more
NAHT members in Jersey back industrial action in island’s schools (27 Jun) – Members of school leaders’ union NAHT have voted in favour of industrial action in Jersey. A resounding 86% of members voted in favour of strike action, with 98% supporting action short of strike (ASOS). Turnout was 68%. Following the ballot, NAHT’s Jersey executive has decided members should take action short of strike in the first instance. It will today serve the seven working days notice required, meaning the action will commence on Wednesday, July 5 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 Hits Out at North Lanarkshire Council’s Non-Renewal of Teacher Contracts (26 Jun) – The EIS has today (Monday) hit out at North Lanarkshire Council’s notification to around 130 teachers late last Friday afternoon that they would be out of work after the summer break. Without warning, around 80 Primary teachers and 50 Secondary teachers received emails last thing on Friday, stating that the Council was unable to offer temporary or Fixed Term contracts to them from August. The EIS has since received numerous emails from very distressed members who face the prospect of unemployment post-summer as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite read more
EIS-FELA Edinburgh College Staff Take Strike Action Over Compulsory Redundancies (26 Jun) – Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland – Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) at Edinburgh College have today (Monday) taken the first in a series of days of strike action in response to compulsory redundancies at the College. The EIS-FELA Branch at Edinburgh College has had an active strike mandate in place for some weeks in pursuit of a dispute regarding compulsory redundancies, which has been successful in reducing the number of jobs under threat, through negotiation. The EIS wrote to the College Principal last week urging further talks. Despite this, the College has rejected the appeal of one member of the lecturing staff against compulsory redundancy as of 30th June read more
EIS Members Resume Strike Action at Hutchesons’ Grammar over Fire and Rehire (20 Jun) – EIS members at Hutchesons’ Grammar, an independent fee-paying school in Glasgow, have resumed their programme of strike action over the school’s use of fire-and-rehire tactics to force teachers onto new contracts with inferior pension provision. Picket lines are in place again at Hutchesons’ Grammar sites this morning. Strike action was halted two weeks ago, following the school’s announcement that it would delay its plans for a year and enter info further talks with teaching unions. The school has since reneged on this previous announcement and now plans to press ahead with its plans this year, leading to the resumption of strike action by EIS members today read more
EIS-FELA Dundee and Angus College Staff Balloting for Industrial Action (6 Jun) – Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland – Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) at Dundee & Angus College are balloting for industrial action, following a proposal by the college to begin compulsory redundancies by the end of June. The proposals come as part of a wider plan by college management to make savings, including cuts to the number of courses on offer to prospective students and staff in these areas. EIS-FELA has warned that the move will undermine the Scottish Government’s efforts to retrain young people in target industries and risks damaging the reputation of the college read more
EIS-FELA Responds to “Completely Unacceptable” Revised pay Offer from Colleges (2 Jun) – Negotiators from the EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) met again, with College Employers Scotland, in an attempt to settle a long running pay dispute. Despite the EIS-FELA making significant movement, by revising their previous pay claim, college employers only tabled a marginally improved offer, asserted as their full and final offer, that still amounts to substantial real terms pay cut for the lecturing workforce. With college students due to complete their studies in the coming weeks, time is now running out to avoid large numbers of students failing to receive their results due to industrial action short of strike, in the form of a resulting boycott, being taken by the EIS-FELA membership. The EIS-FELA has made clear previously that in the absence of an acceptable pay offer, industrial action will be escalated to national strike action early in the new academic year read more
City of Glasgow College Lecturers take Strike Action (30 May) – There has been strong turnout on picket lines as lecturers at City of Glasgow College (CoGC) began a programme of strike action over planned cuts and redundancies. Lecturers at the college will be on strike for the rest of the week, with 4-days of strike action then set to continue each week for the following three weeks. The commencement of strike action is an escalation in the dispute, building on a programme of Action Short of Strike (ASOS) already in place at the college read more
INTO
A Reminder for Members on our Key Actions Short of Strike (31 May) – INTO, NEU and UTU have produced the poster below to highlight for members our key actions short of strike read more
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
University marking boycott requires UK-wide resolution (28 Jun) – UCU called on UCEA to immediately commence negotiations to resolve the UK-wide marking boycott. The union was responding to the interim arrangement reached between Queen’s University Belfast management and UCU branch read more
Falmouth University staff brought in-house and onto Teachers’ Pension Scheme (23 Jun) – UCU welcomed Falmouth University’s decision to bring on-campus academic staff in-house from Tuesday 1 August 2023. The move means staff will automatically be enrolled onto the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), which has employer contributions of 23.6%. UCU said that other employers should look to Falmouth and make sure their staff can access the sector’s leading pension schemes. All new campus-based academic jobs will also be employed directly through the university, rather than a subsidiary company. The decision brings a long-running dispute to an end with Falmouth UCU members overwhelmingly voting to resolve the dispute and work constructively with management going forward read more
UCEA needs to ‘stop spinning’, says UCU (23 Jun) – UCEA needs to “stop spinning” and “fix its national degree scandal” said UCU. The union was responding to UCEA’s claims about the impact of the marking boycott read more
Weston College being run as ‘personal fiefdom’ (23 Jun) – UCU slammed outgoing Weston College principal Sir Paul Phillips for running the college as his ‘personal fiefdom’ after FE Week reported it is facing a recruitment crisis. UCU said the crisis means there are serious questions for the board of governors to answer read more
Strike ballot opens at Stanmore College after ‘pitiful’ 1% pay increase (21 Jun) – A strike ballot over low pay and poor working conditions will open tomorrow at Stanmore College in London. The college has offered staff a paltry 1% consolidated pay increase alongside a £1.5k one off payment. It has also attempted to reconfigure its offer but the envelope of money available has not changed. The most recent college accounts show the number of senior management earning £60k-£160k doubled from three to six in 2022, representing a £165k increase to the wage bill read more
Nine days of strikes at University of Leicester over pay docking (19 Jun) – Staff at the University of Leicester begin nine days of strike action on Wednesday over the university’s enforcement of 50% wage deductions for staff taking part in the marking boycott. The full days of strike action are:
- week 1: Wednesday 21 June
- week 2: Monday 26, Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 June
- week 3: Tuesday 18 July, Wednesday 19 July, Thursday 20 July, Friday 21 July.
Management at Leicester plans to stop paying staff 50% of their salary from the first day marking becomes available until the boycott ends. The boycott covers all marking and assessment, including in writing, online, or verbally at 145 UK universities. It will continue until employer body the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) makes an improved offer in the ongoing pay and working conditions dispute, at which point UCU will decide whether to continue the action or call it off. In March UCU successfully renewed its mandate in the ongoing national pay and conditions dispute, allowing action to be called for a further six months at 145 universities, including Leicester. UCU members at 21 universities have now either taken or confirmed they will take strike action over pay docking read more
Strikes set for Liverpool John Moores University over pay docking (13 Jun) – Staff at Liverpool John Moores University will down tools on Friday in the first of eight days of strike action in response to the university’s enforcement of 50% wage deductions for staff taking part in the marking boycott. Friday’s strike will hit a key university open day, and staff will rally outside Metropolitan Cathedral, next to the university’s John Foster building from 1pm. The full days of strike action are:-
Week 1: Friday 16 June
Week 2: Thursday 17 and Friday 18 August
Week 3: Monday 18, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September.
Management at John Moores has started docking the pay of staff who are boycotting marking by 50% despite the fact that staff continue to teach, support students, write references, provide pastoral care, undertake research and attend public events read more
Strike at University of Bristol amid ‘dodgy’ degree scandal (7 Jun) – Staff at the University of Bristol are set to strike on Friday 16 June during an open day in an acrimonious pay dispute, UCU announced today. UCU members are also boycotting marking. The university has responded by bypassing degree accreditation processes and confirming it will dock 50% of pay from staff participating in the boycott. Hundreds of staff and students have signed an open letter condemning management’s attempts to degrade the credibility of any degrees awarded by the university read more
Strike ON tomorrow at University of Westminster over 100% pay docking (6 Jun) – Staff at the University of Westminster will be on strike tomorrow after management confirmed it will dock 100% of the pay of staff taking part in the marking boycott. Striking staff will be picketing main entrances at 309 Regent Street and 35 Marylebone Road from 5pm to 7.30pm to coincide with the university’s postgraduate open day. UCU members are striking because Westminster is deducting 100% of the pay of staff taking part in the marking and assessment boycott, despite staff continuing to teach, lecture and support students as normal. The boycott covers all marking and assessment, including in writing, online, or verbally at 145 UK universities. It will continue until employer body UCEA makes an improved offer in the ongoing pay and working conditions dispute, at which point UCU will decide whether to continue the action or call it off. In March UCU successfully renewed its mandate in the dispute, allowing action to be called for a further six months at 145 universities, including Westminster read more
Indefinite strike action to hit University of Leeds over 100% pay docking (2 Jun) – Over 1,800 staff at the University of Leeds will begin indefinite strike action from Thursday 15 June after management confirmed it will be deducting 100% of the pay of staff taking part in the marking boycott. The strike could continue for months unless management stop docking staff pay. UCU said pay deductions of up to 100% are utterly unacceptable as staff taking part in the marking and assessment boycott continue to teach, lecture and support students as normal read more
Tyne Coast College faces two strike days next week in pay row (2 Jun) – Over 100 staff at Tyne Coast College will down tools next week in a fight over fair pay. Staff will strike on Monday 5 and Wednesday 7 June. They will be picketing outside main entrances from 7.30am to 9.30am on both strike days. The College has said it will be ‘closed for lessons’ during the strike days. The strike comes after 94% of those who voted backed strike action. Turnout was 54%. It is over the 2022/3 pay claim, which comes on top of multiple real-term wage cuts and a recent pay freeze (2019/20) read more
Strikes to hit four Yorkshire colleges during GCSE exams in pay & conditions fight (1 Jun) – Staff at Leeds City, Harrogate, Kirklees and Bradford colleges will strike for four days from Monday 5 June unless employers make an improved pay offer. The days of strike action taking place at all four colleges are: Monday 5 June, Wednesday 7 June, Monday 12 June, Wednesday 14 June. UCU said college leaders only have themselves to blame if strikes disrupt crucial GCSE maths and English exams set to take place next week. Staff at Kirklees and Bradford colleges already went on strike last month in their disputes. Bradford college staff also intend to take further action in June read more
Five days of strikes to hit Sheffield Hallam University in pay docking fight (30 May) – Staff at Sheffield Hallam University will resume strike action tomorrow (Wednesday 31 May) in the first of five days of action after the university began deducting 100% of the pay of staff taking part in the marking and assessment boycott. Staff at the university have already taken two days of strike action in response to the deductions, on 25 and 26 May. The further full days of strike action called are: Wednesday 31 May, no pickets; Thursday 1 June, no pickets; Friday 2 June, picket location: City Campus, Howard Street, S1 1WB; Wednesday 7 June, picket locations: Collegiate Cres, Broomhall, Sheffield S10 2BP; City Campus, Howard Street, S1 1WB; Thursday 8 June, picket locations: Collegiate Cres, Broomhall, Sheffield S10 2BP; City Campus, Howard Street, S1 1WB. Staff are striking because Sheffield Hallam is deducting 100% of the pay of staff taking part in the marking and assessment boycott, despite staff continuing to teach, lecture and support students as normal read more
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
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
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 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
POA
Pension discrimination claims and injury to feelings (26 Jun) – As you will be aware, Thompsons Solicitors have recently taken over the conduct of the age discrimination claims in response to the introduction of the Alpha pension scheme. Thompsons have gone on the record at the Employment Tribunal for those members who have provided their consent to have their case transferred from Walkers Solicitors to Thompsons. This is an ongoing process that is currently only dealing with first wave claims and at present not everyone within the first wave has yet provided their consent to transfer read more
Justice Committee survey findings are a damning indictment on the dire working conditions prison staff have to endure say POA (23 Jun) – Today heralds the release of the Justice Select Committee survey of operational prison staff. The results confirm what the POA Union who represent operational Prison Officers and related grades have been stating for years read more
68 is too late: POA Parliamentary Briefing June 2023 – Download and read the POA Parliamentary Briefing June 2023
BFAWU
BFAWU members at Allied Bakeries in Liverpool are out on Strike! (31 May) – Our members at Allied Bakeries in Liverpool have taken the difficult decision to withdraw their labour this week over a pay dispute, the picket line over the last 24 hours has had plenty of support from the membership and the public with lots of drivers beeping their horns and waving and passers by passing on their support! Read more Donate to the strike fund
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
NUJ
NUJ wants RTÉ review to consider report into Current Affairs culture (28 Jun) – Séamus Dooley, NUJ Irish Secretary, stated the redacted report is a “damning indictment of the culture which operated in Current Affairs.” Read more
NUJ members at RTÉ hold protest over secret payments by the broadcaster (27 Jun) – On 27 June, approximately 200 employees at RTÉ demonstrated against recent revelations that the public service broadcaster had failed to disclose payments made to Ryan Tubridy. Hundreds gathered to demand transparency, truth and clarity on recent developments. The NUJ has expressed its alarm at the recent crisis, with chapel members passing a motion expressing anger over the secret payments read more
Union alarm at RTÉ crisis (26 Jun) – NUJ members at RTÉ are alarmed at ongoing developments following last weeks revelations concerning secretive payments to top paid presenter, Ryan Tubridy. This morning, 26th June 2023, director general, Dee Forbes, announced her resignation and in doing so made a series of assertions concerning the knowledge of other RTÉ executives regarding the arrangements with an agent acting for Mr Tubridy read more
NUJ statement arising from resignation of Dee Forbes as director general, RTÉ (26 Jun) – The NUJ notes the statement by Dee Forbes announcing her resignation. In resigning, Ms Forbes has raised several fundamental issues which give rise to serious questions which must be answered by RTÉ read more
NUJ calls on UK government to halt deportation of journalist Ghazi Gareeb Zorab (27 Jun) – The NUJ has urged UK authorities to stop the deportation of a Kurdish journalist facing threats to his safety if returned to Iraq. Ghazi Ghareeb Zorab, who is seeking asylum in the UK, was detained on 26 June at the Dallas Court Immigration Centre in Salford and informed he would be deported to Jordan on 1 July. He is expected to be onwardly moved from there to Iraq despite fears about credible threats to his life read more
Journalists at National World condemn redundancy process (26 Jun) – The NUJ has expressed dismay at National World’s treatment of staff during its current redundancy process. This month, the publisher of titles including the Edinburgh Evening News, Yorkshire Evening Post and Blackpool Gazette announced it would place tens of jobs at risk of redundancy read more
VICE UK journalists call off strike as company increases redundancy pay (23 Jun) – The NUJ is pleased to announce that because of the union’s actions, the company has increased its offer to a more substantial redundancy package for affected employees. The union’s VICE UK chapel has agreed to call off strike action by journalists on 29 and 30 June. The revised and enhanced terms are now £5,000 plus statutory redundancy pay read more
Equity
London Assembly formally objects to ACE decision in unanimous motion to Save the ENO (9 Jun) – The London Assembly has made a unanimous cross party call for Arts Council England to end its requirement to move ENO outside of London. ENO workers and campaign supporters packed the public gallery to hear the motion on the ENO adopted unanimously. Assembly Members await an invitation to a meeting with ACE CEO Darren Henley to discuss their concerns. The London Assembly has formally raised its objection to the Arts Council’s shock decision to defund the English National Opera and require it to move out of London, in a unanimous vote receiving cross-party support. ENO workers who are members of Equity and the Musicians’ Union packed the public gallery on Thursday afternoon, along with campaign supporters, to hear the motion tabled by Elly Baker AM from the City Hall Labour Group read more
Community
Community marches for future of Britain’s steel industry (28 Jun) – Hundreds of steelworkers from every single one of Britain’s steelmakers march on Parliament today (28 June 2023) calling on the Government to take urgent action to secure the future of Britain’s steel industry read more
USDAW
Debenhams staff long wait for justice continues – Usdaw calls on the Government to intervene and stop this appalling situation happening again (27 Jun) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed today’s parliamentary question in the House of Commons to the Government’s Justice Department, raising the ongoing wait former Debenhams workers face in securing the financial award they are due after being unfairly made redundant three years ago. It was devastating for our high streets and the staff that Debenhams closed all their stores. Each one of those job losses is a personal tragedy for the individual worker and store closures scar our high streets and communities. With online fashion retailer Boohoo buying the Debenhams brand and closing all stores, they ended nearly 250 years of retailing history and put a big hole in many town and city centres read more
Protect the right to strike! Usdaw urges the Government to drop their anti-union Bill after the ILO voices concerns (21 Jun) – Retail trade union Usdaw is calling on the Government to drop their Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill and break the deadlock on this controversial measure. Today (21 June) the House of Commons will consider the amendments made to the bill by Peers for a second time, as the parliamentary ‘ping-pong’ continues. The International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations (UN) agency, said the UK needed to “ensure that existing and prospective legislation is in conformity” with international rules on freedom of association and added that the Government must seek technical assistance from the agency’s experts read more
UVW
UVW cleaners at La Retraite School to strike alongside NEU teachers in early July (22 Jun) – “Most of us cleaners would be forced to stop working at the school because many of us have other jobs we need to get to, which we need to pay our rent and food. So, it would be very difficult for us to make ends meet if the changes go ahead” – Roberto Hernandez Diaz, cleaner at the La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls School and UVW member. The outsourced cleaners at La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School in south London will return to the picket line for the second time in three years. They will take strike action on the 5 and 7 July alongside National Education Union (NEU) striking teachers. The action has been called following the school’s insistence at changing the cleaners’ working hours which will result in many of them facing the sack as they already have other jobs for the proposed new time. Many have worked at the school for several years read more
Three perfect strike days… and the battle continues (22 Jun) – “We don’t give up. We overcome our fear. We keep fighting. We stick together, we win” – UVW striker and senior care worker Bile from Sage Nursing Home. UVW low-paid and migrant cleaners, carers and concierge workers took three days of coordinated strike action in June for sick pay, a liveable wage and improved working conditions. The majority outsourced workers defied the stone-dead silence of their employers, some of whom hid behind closed doors, by picketing together their seven workplaces in solidarity with each other and touring London on an open-top double-decker bus. The strikers’ voices were loud and clear. “We are not the dirt we clean!”, “No more poverty pay!””End outsourcing now!”, they proclaimed as they rallied support from politicians, trade unionists, teachers, office workers, civil servants, students and residents in their local communities. The workers, hailing from the billionaire global giant Amazon’s warehouse in Dartford and the publishing house Ogilvy at Sea Containers Building, the London School of Economics (LSE), the Department For Education (DfE), the Streatham and Clapham High School (SCHS), Sage Nursing Home and the luxury apartments West End Quays (WEQ), were united in their demands for DIGNITY, EQUALITY, RESPECT…On the picket line, Labour MP for Streatham Bell Ribeiro Addy, local councillor Martin Abrams and Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski as well as trade unionists from Unite the Union and the National Shop Stewards Network expressed their full support and solidarity with the strikers
All aboard the UVW strike bus! (13 Jun) – All aboard! A bus load of cleaners, carers and concierge workers together with dozens of supporters, went on a whistle stop tour of five workplaces on strike, marking the first day of a three-day coordinated strike involving seven groups of workers! These brave workers picketed the offices in large numbers and with jubilant dancing and chanting of the Department for Education, publishing powerhouse Ogilvy, the prestigious London School of Economics and Sage Nursing home. They wrapped up the day leafleting residents at West End Quays luxury apartments. Tuesday 13 June was a day of joyful resistance as low-paid, precarious and migrant workers called for dignity, equality and respect. Specific demands included full sick pay, an end to outsourcing, £15 an hour, unsocial hours enhancements and more. Refusing to be invisible, the UVW open-top double decker strike bus cut through the heart of the establishment in central London, gathering support along the way and in their local communities…If you want to support these brave workers, you can DONATE and or SHARE their strike crowdfunder.
You can also JOIN their action group for updates on the campaign and details of how to join a picket line.
Get to know the workers and their demands here and SPREAD THE WORD! Or send a letter of protest to their employers. Takes 1 minute!
- Equality now for Streatham and Clapham High School
- Give the Ogilvy night shift cleaners what they need and deserve
- London School of Economics pay your cleaners their holiday pay!
IWGB
UCL to sack 40 security guards and fire-and-rehire remaining 216, prompting strike action (9 Jun) – Outsourced security guards working at University College London (UCL) have received communications from subcontractor Bidvest Noonan confirming that 40 out of 256 of the total staff will be made redundant as part of a restructuring process taking place before the 2023/24 academic year. Remaining security guards will face changes in contracts which will include cuts to hours for many staff of 18 hours per week, amounting to a pay cut of £13,500 per year, as well as changes in job responsibilities and the deletion of various roles. Upon receiving the news, security guard members of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) held an indicative vote for strike action by show of hands at a meeting attended by over 100 security guards, resulting in a unanimous Yes vote in favour of industrial action. The official ballot will run from 14 June – 3 July. The restructuring and redundancies take place during an ongoing campaign by outsourced workers at University College London represented by the IWGB to end outsourcing. The campaign, which started in 2019, most recently saw the security guards at UCL taking strike action in December 2022 and February 2023 read more
Mandate (Ireland)
Mandate supports legislation to end age discrimination in National Minimum Wage (8 Jun) – Mandate Trade Union has rolled in behind legislation tabled by People Before Profit/Solidarity which seeks to give young workers access to the full minimum wage instead of a reduced rate. Since 1 January 2023, the national minimum wage is €11.30 for people aged 20 and over. However, for workers under 18 it’s €7.91 (70%), aged 18 it’s € 9.04 (80%) and aged 19 it’s €10.17 (90%) read more
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU says swift action and genuine accountability essential in RTÉ payments scandal (23 Jun) – SIPTU representatives have said that swift action and genuine accountability are essential if the crisis in trust for station staff and the public concerning financial governance in RTÉ is to begin to be allayed following the emergence of hidden payments at the national broadcaster read more
SIPTU members secure pandemic recognition payment following day of action (21 Jun) – SIPTU representatives have today (Wednesday, 21st June) confirmed that the €1000 pandemic recognition payment has been paid to hundreds of members working as contract cleaners in hospitals following a public protest last week by the ‘Forgotten Frontline Heroes Campaign’ 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
From NUJ website: Palestine – journalists hospitalised following attacks by Israeli army (21 Jun) – NUJ calls for an end to the systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists read more on NUJ website
From NUJ website: Yemen – journalist Fahd Al-Arhabi imprisoned (21 Jun) – NUJ condemns detention of Al-Arhabi as authorities clampdown on press freedom read more on NUJ website
Diary
June
July
29 Troublemakers at Work Conference 2023: Friends Meeting House, Manchester – supported by Workers Can Win!, Strike Map, NSSN 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
