NSSN 726: Birmingham Bin Strike Mega Picket closes depot

The NSSN supported last Friday’s Mega Picket at Lifford Lane Bin Depot, called by Strike Map in solidarity with the indefinite Unite Birmingham bin strike. There was a tremendous turnout, bringing together striking binworkers supported by trade unionists both locally and from across the country. Very quickly, the Labour council closed the depot as hundreds and hundreds assembled outside the gates.

This was a victory against the brutal attack by the council against the income of hardworking binworkers, hopefully giving a boost to the workers, who have been on strike for about 60 days.

The NSSN will continue to give full solidarity to Unite and the striking binworkers and will keep mobilising support for the strike and for any action called to back the workers.

Unite: Birmingham council real plans laid bare as it now announces savage cuts for bin drivers (29 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has said the council’s decision to now cut bin lorry drivers’ pay shows an escalation in the dispute and the council’s real plans to use workers’ pay as a way to cut costs. Under the council’s plans the pay rate of drivers will reduce from £40,000 to £32,000, a pay cut of £8,000, a fifth of their income. Last week Unite said that it believed that a deal to end the long running bin strike could be “within touching distance” provided the council did not cut the pay of drivers. The council’s decision to cut the pay of bin drivers, exposes public statements made by council leader John Cotton that no worker “need lose pay” as a lie. Unite is calling on John Cotton, leader of the council to be present at the ACAS talks. He can hide no longer. The Labour government has a clear role in this dispute. The council’s financial problems are directly linked to its £3.9 billion debt, which is owned by the government. If the government restructured or reduced the debt the council would not need to cut workers’ pay read more

Sign petition to support binworkers 

Send a message of support to Unite and the binworkers

Donate to the strike fund – Unite WM/7186 Branch, account: 20308397, sort code: 608301. Title donation: BCC Strike Donation 

Liverpool Public Meeting in solidarity with the Birmingham Bin Workers (hosted by Unite & Liverpool Trades Union Council) – 7pm Thursday 15^th May, Unite Jack Jones House, 2 Churchill Way, Liverpool L3 8EF

NSSN Annual Conference 2025 – Make the rich pay not workers!  

11am-4.30pm Saturday 5^th July in Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. Attendance fee – £10  Facebook event

Confirmed speakers so far – Steve Gillan POA General Secretary, Steve Wright FBU General Secretary, Annoesjka Valent NAPO National Official   

This year’s NSSN Conference will be on the theme ‘Make the rich pay not workers!’ This is when the Starmer New Labour government is looking to slash budgets at the same time as councils make cuts, the NHS is under massive pressure and higher education is in crisis. This is alongside recessionary signs in the private sector, with threats to jobs while the cost of living squeeze remains.  

A major part of our conference and our activity will be about the need for the trade union movement to organise against Starmer and Reeves’s austerity and the bosses’ offensive. Our conference will also demand the immediate repeal of the Tory anti-union laws, including the undemocratic voting thresholds, promised by Starmer but still in force despite his government being elected with a 160 seat plus majority last July. It will also be a platform for union reps and members from the growing number of disputes to speak about their action. We will continue to support workers’ struggles and publicise them in this, our weekly NSSN bulletin.  

Model motion and letter for union branches & trades councils to get support for NSSN conference

Download and distribute our new Workplace Report    

Affiliate your union branch/trades council to NSSN (£50).   

Renew/donate online (HSBC: 40-06-41, 90143790)   

Cheque (NSSN, 16 Warren Rd, London E10 5QA).   

Affiliation letter     Contact us: email – [email protected].   

Peoples Assembly demonstration: Austerity is a political choice, welfare not warfare, stop the far-right, stop the cuts – Saturday 7^th June in Central London   

Union News    

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RMT    

RMT National Dispute Fund     

Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract awarded to CalMac (8 May) – RMT today welcomed the news that CalMac has been directly awarded the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract. The Scottish government made the decision following a long running People’s CalMac campaign by the union, demanding more investment and to put island communities before profit read more

A charter for starters! (6 May) – RMT launches film to promote the Apprentice charter to address the crisis in transport apprenticeships. RMT’s Apprentice Charter outlines a comprehensive plan to address challenges faced by apprentices, improve the quality of apprenticeships, and ensure the future sustainability of the transport sector. It calls on politicians and employers to take decisive action to support and invest in apprentices, particularly in rail which faces a looming retirement crisis read more

ASLEF  

ASLEF: Drivers at Hull Trains take strike action tomorrow (17 Apr) – Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, and Dave Calfe, president of ASLEF’s executive committee, will join Nigel Roebuck, ASLEF’s full-time organiser in the north-east of England, and lead officer with Hull Trains, on the picket line at the front of the railway station in Hull tomorrow [Friday]. ASLEF members at Hull Trains are taking industrial action in defence of a driver who has been unfairly sacked and has done nothing wrong read more

TSSA

TSSA Comment on London Transport Power Outage (12 May) – A power failure is causing major disruption across the London Underground network, London Overground and the Elizabeth Line read more

TSSA pleased with CalMac contract decision (8 May) – Transport and travel union TSSA has hailed as ‘reassuring’ the decisi on of the Scottish Government to directly award the running of west coast ferry services to CalMac. CalMac Ferries, which is in public hands, will continue to run the Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Service (CHFS). The existing contract was due to expire last September but had been extended a year read more

TSSA backs lowering of train drivers’ minimum age (7 May) – Rail union TSSA has today backed a move by the Westminster government which will see the minimum age allowed for driving a train lowered, from 20, to 18 years of age. The announcement was made by the Department for Transport (DfT), with the aim of tackling an ongoing shortage of drivers. The change follows a public consultation last year read more

Unite    

Join London events in support of Livv housing workers who have been striking since October last year. Wednesday and Thursday this week. Follow link for details from the website of Unite LE/1111 Housing Workers Branch

Unite launches hotline for tenants let down by Knowsley based union-busting Livv Housing – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has today (30 Apr) launched a hotline for residents of union-busting housing association Livv Housing Group. Tenants of Livv Housing, based in Knowsley, Merseyside can register their concerns with Unite by calling 07586982889, scanning a QR code on a leaflet or emailing [email protected]. Residents of the social housing firm, whose management are currently at the centre of a dispute with Unite over pay, have previously complained of issues with the quality of repairs and responses to complaints, as well as long delays in fixing reported issues – and now Unite are offering them a forum to get in touch. It comes on the back of Unite general secretary Sharon Graham visiting the picket line in Knowsley to address and support striking Livv Housing yesterday (29 April)… The workers are currently undertaking 11 days of strike action between mid-April and the end of May. Further industrial action is likely if the dispute is not resolved read more

Northern Ireland: Department statistics reveal nearly 15,000 low-paid education support workers on precarious temporary contracts (12 May) – More than 2,500 general and special needs classroom assistants are not moving to permanent contracts despite more than four years of service. Unite has called on education minister Paul Given to intervene to end precarious ‘temporary’ working among school support workers. The union has made public figures supplied to trade unions by the Education Authority which has revealed widespread reliance on temporary working for staff such as nursery, general and classroom assistants in schools. Many of those working under such poor practices do not receive pay during school holiday periods and have little job security from one year to the next. Given the predominant female composition of the workforce, the union highlighted major concerns that women workers were being treated in a such a problematic manner read more

Unite union expresses anger over planned NHS cuts (9 May) – NHS bosses reporting huge reductions in spending in latest survey. Union highlights risk to staff and patient safety. Unite, one of Britain’s leading health sector trade unions, has today reacted with anger at planned spending cuts across the NHS. A survey conducted by NHS Providers has revealed that the NHS in England is planning “previously unthinkable” cuts to try to balance the books according to health bosses. Such cuts would be devastating and Unite will seek to oppose them wherever our members urge us to do which could include resorting to industrial action. Cuts will inevitably fall on staff with numbers already at breaking point. Unite has long campaigned for safe staffing levels in hospitals and current levels already put both staff and patients at risk. Staff have already taken industrial action as a last resort when highlighting this issue and with further cuts predicted this is likely to increase read more

Wage win for Prestwick Airport workers (8 May) – Pay deal secures increases in pay, allowances and holidays. Unite can confirm today (8 May) it has successfully negotiated a pay deal for workers at Prestwick airport. The union has secured significant improvements to the pay, terms and conditions of around 200 workers. The pay deal backdated to 1 April guarantees the real living wage (RLW) of £12.60 per hour for all permanent staff, and a basic salary increase worth up 6.8 per cent depending on role. The deal further secures improvements to shift allowances and pay along with an additional day’s annual leave for workers based at the airport after five years employment read more

Unite welcomes defence contract for Rolls Royce and calls for further UK defence investment (8 May) – Maintenance contract for Typhoon supports Bristol jobs. Union calls on government to purchase additional Typhoons read more

UK/US tariff deal: Tariff respite welcome in short-term but long-term challenges must be tackled, Unite (8 May) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has welcomed today’s announcement (8 May) that the UK and United States have agree a deal which will reduce tariffs on key goods including exports of steel and cars read more

Strikes at John Crane in Slough escalate as management refuses to engage (8 May) – A pay dispute at Slough-based engineering firm John Crane has escalated, with 40 workers voting to undertake additional strike action. The members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have already been on strike on four dates in April and two this month, after rejecting a three per cent pay rise. It is the first time there has been strike action by Unite members at the firm. Now, the workers are set to walk out from 27 to 31 May and on 5 and 11 June, after management repeatedly refused to come back to the negotiating table. This is despite the fact that last year the previous CEO was awarded a 22 per cent increase and his severance package will see him drawing a pay packet until 2026. John Crane is also highly profitable. It is part of global company Smiths Group, which had an operating profit of £526 million last year read more

Oil and gas workers abandoned as Harbour Energy cuts 250 jobs (7 May) – Trade union blames government policy for latest jobs blow to the North Sea. Unite the union has today blasted government policy for the latest jobs blow to the offshore sector as Harbour Energy announced plans to cut a further 250 jobs in Aberdeen. Following discussions this morning with Harbour Energy, the UK’s largest oil and gas producer, Unite said it is ‘crystal clear’ that government policy and the current regulatory framework is contributing to companies slashing jobs alongside the acceleration of oil and gas assets being decommissioned by operators. Harbour Energy had previously announced the loss of 350 onshore jobs in 2023 read more

Liverpool hospital lab workers to strike over patient safety fears (7 May) – Over fifty workers responsible for testing samples at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital will walk out this month due to concerns that burnout and understaffing is putting patients at risk. Strikes are set to take place on 22, 23 and 27 May. The members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, work in the microbiology department at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories (which is part of the hospital trust). They play a key role in diagnosing infections at the hospital, analysing blood, tissue, and many other samples before a clinician uses the results to decide on the correct course of action for the patient. However, problems in the department such as poor staff retention and workers often being unable to arrange sufficient rest time to spend with their families means members have overwhelmingly voted for strike action, as they fear without change patients’ lives will be at risk. Members are especially concerned that overworking can put them at high risk of making mistakes. Meanwhile the short staffing also means some test results are taking far longer than they should, potentially leaving patients exposed to fatal infections such as sepsis, which can spread quickly and kill within 24 hours if left untreated read more

Unite delivers wage win for East Kilbride based Ethigen drivers (7 May) – Unite delivers wage win for East Kilbride based Ethigen drivers. An extra £1,600 secured with better terms and conditions. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, has successfully negotiated an improved pay deal for Ethigen distribution drivers based in East Kilbride. Around 20 drivers will benefit from a wage win successfully negotiated by Unite amounting to an additional £1,600 over the next 12-months which will be backdated to 1 April read more

First Bus engineers across Greater Glasgow secure bumper pay deal (7 May) – Latest 13.3 per cent increase raises wages by £9,700 over 18 months. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, confirmed today (Wednesday 7 ) that around 150 engineers who maintain and repair First Glasgow’s buses have secured another bumper pay deal. The union has successfully negotiated a pay package increase worth 13.3 per cent and backdated to April 2025. This has a cash value rise of nearly £4,700 for every engineer employed by First Glasgow’s operations. The engineers are based in various bus depots across Greater Glasgow including Blantyre, Caledonia, Dumbarton, Overtown and Scotstoun read more

Disruption expected at Gatwick Airport as strikes intensify (2 May) – Unite members at Red Handling and Redline Oil will take industrial action in the coming weeks including May half term. There will be double the disruption at London Gatwick Airport in May and June as workers represented by Unite at two firms are set to strike, with some overlap in the industrial action. Plane refuellers from Redline Oil Services Ltd, who work for airlines including easyJet, are walking out in a dispute about pay. Gatwick is the low-cost airline’s biggest hub. The Redline workers have voted to strike after rejecting an offer of 3.5 per cent over two years. The two sets of four-day strikes by the Redline staff, who perform essential work ensuring aircraft have the necessary fuel for their flights, will lead to cancelled and delayed flights including in the early part of the May half term – a peak travel period for Gatwick Airport. The first strike will begin on 16 May. Meanwhile, following the Easter weekend strike by Red Handling, over a 100 workers from the company including baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers will walk out again for four consecutive Sunday’s (see notes to editors for full dates) including those on either side of the May half term. With the first strike occurring on May 11 read more

Unite responds to Premier Inn owner Whitbread’s full year results (1 May) – Unite, the union for hospitality workers, has responded to Premier Inn owner Whitbread’s full year results. The firm has recorded its second-biggest pre-tax profit of the last five years, after continual profit throughout the past 15 years apart from in 2021, during the Covid pandemic. However, Unite members at Whitbread have struggled with low pay, with the company refusing to pay the real living wage of £12.60 and £13.85 in London despite Unite and others pressing them to make this commitment read more

Grangemouth closure and Blair’s net zero intervention, must be wake up call for government warns Unite (30 Apr) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has today (30 April) called on the UK government to fundamentally rethink its approach to net zero policies and industrial strategy. Unite’s intervention comes a day after it was announced that the Grangemouth oil refinery has ceased refining oil and former prime minister Tony Blair warned that the present policy is “doomed to fail”. The union warns that the government must now deliver an industrial strategy underpinned by a fully funded workers’ transition, or net zero will become a political millstone around Labour’s neck read more

Sign petition to support binworkers 

Send a message of support to Unite and the binworkers

Donate to the strike fund – Unite WM/7186 Branch, account: 20308397, sort code: 608301. Title donation: BCC Strike Donation 

TotalEnergies workers balloted for strike action (25 Apr) – Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms at risk of major disruption. Unite the union announced today (25 April) that offshore workers employed by TotalEnergies are being balloted for strike action. Around 50 Unite members based on the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms are involved in an escalating dispute after the overwhelming rejection of an unacceptable pay offer. The dispute centres on the pay claim for 2025 which should take effect from 1 January. TotalEnergies originally offered a 1.5 per cent basic salary increase, which after being overwhelmingly rejected by the workers, was minimally increased to 1.75 per cent. The latest offer which also amounts to a real terms pay cut was similarly rejected. The ballot covering the Elgin Franklin and North Alwyn platforms opens on 29 April and closes on 2 June read more

Hundreds of Dundee university workers back strike action (25 Apr) – Unite steps up campaign in defence of jobs at STUC Congress next week. Unite the union can confirm today (25 April) that hundreds of Dundee university workers have overwhelmingly backed strike action in the fight for jobs and the institution’s long-term future. Unite represents hundreds of workers at the university in professional services roles including technicians and student support. Unite is backing demands for the Scottish government’s external taskforce involving unions and other key stakeholders to spearhead measures to protect hundreds of livelihoods and sustain the future of the university. As part of the initial discussions, the union has welcomed the removal of an initial threat to workers that they could face redundancy as the university grapples with a £35m deficit. The interim principal Shane O’Neill stated in a recent letter to the Scottish parliament that over 700 jobs could be at immediate risk…On Tuesday (29 April) following an emergency motion on the crisis facing Dundee university tabled by Unite at the STUC Annual Congress, a rally outside the Caird Hall involving trade unionists, community activists, students and workers will take place. A march involving trade unions and students will also assemble at the university’s Tower Building at noon which will then set off to join STUC delegates for the rally at 12:30 PM outside the Caird Hall read more

Passenger assistance staff at Heathrow escalate strike action (23 Apr) – Workers at Wilson James head to picket line – now joined by managers. Around 500 Heathrow Wilson James workers providing assistance to passengers with restricted mobility (PRM) are taking further strike action beginning tomorrow (24 April). The Wilson James workers are angry at being paid considerably less than their colleagues at Gatwick despite performing the same role. Wilson James workers at Heathrow walk an average of 13 miles a day while providing transport across the airport, emotional reassurance and kindness to passengers who are often stressed and overwhelmed…The Wilson James PRM staff will be on strike on the following dates: 24, 25, 29, and 30 April 2025. Additionally, their managers will be joining the strike action starting on 1 May 2025, after they also voted in favour of industrial action read more

Stagecoach bus services across west of Scotland to stop in May as pay dispute escalates (23 Apr) – No breakthrough in talks after 500 Unite members reject ‘unacceptable’ pay offer. Unite the union can confirm today (23 April) that 500 Stagecoach drivers are set to bring bus services across the west of Scotland to a stop. Unite members voted by 98 per cent to undertake industrial action on a high turnout following the rejection of an “unacceptable” four per cent pay offer by Stagecoach West Scotland. Unite has said despite ongoing talks with the company a significantly improved pay offer has not been put to the drivers who operate out of several depots in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan, Dumfries, Kilmarnock and Stranraer. Strike action will now take place over a series of days including 2, 6, 9, 12, 16, 19, and 23 May read more

Striking Ealing traffic wardens protest outside Parliament over local MPs’ inaction (22 Apr) – Demonstration held as letters of complaint against MPs Deirdre Costigan and James Murray sent to standards commissioner. Striking Ealing civil enforcement officers will protest outside of parliament tomorrow (23 April) over union-busting, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers are angry at the ‘disgraceful’ lack of support from their local MPs Deirdre Costigan and James Murray. The civil enforcement officers, who are employed by Greener Ealing, began industrial action in August 2024 over the council-controlled company’s refusal to recognise their union, Unite. Since then, four wardens have been sacked on trumped up charges while they were taking strike action read more. Send messages of support to Patrice 07915 064797 – Unite rep of Ealing Parking Assistants who has been sacked (along with 3 others) for leading strike action  

Strike action at Scottish Water to escalate (22 Apr) – Union criticises public body for ‘watering down’ pay offer. Further strike action is set to hit Scottish Water as the dispute over pay at the public body escalates. 48-hour strike action will take place on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd April involving Unite’s 500-strong membership at offices and wastewater treatment works across the whole of Scotland with the union warning more industrial action is ‘likely’. Unite will stage protests and photo call: When & Where: 9.30 a.m. Tuesday 22 April & Wednesday 23 April at Shieldhall Depot and Clatto Water Treatment Works, Dundee.

Unite continues to criticise Scottish Water executives for using talks through the conciliation service Acas as a device to ‘water down’ a pay offer made to the workforce, and to fall back on an inferior offer made last year. The ‘watered down’ offer amounts to a basic pay rise of 3.4 per cent or £1,050 for those on the lowest grades over a nine-month period read more

Bus services across Telford under threat as workers ballot for strikes over pay (4 Apr) – Bus services in Telford, Shropshire could stop from next month, as over a hundred drivers ballot for strikes over pay, Unite has announced. The drivers have not had a pay rise during the last year and currently earn £13.36 an hour – 11 per cent less than the West Midlands average of £14.93. They have also had years of below-inflation pay rises, leaving them feeling ‘shortchanged’ by their employer but work long hours as well as early, late and weekend shifts…The ballot closes on 17 April. If it is successful, industrial action could take place in early May. Any strike action will have a serious impact on all bus services running in the Telford area read more

Unite general secretary joins Manchester Capita picket line (2 Apr) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will be joining striking workers employed by Capita on the Royal London contact in Manchester tomorrow (Thursday 3 April)… The workers are employed in Capita’s life and pensions division where they work on the contract for insurance giant Royal London. The dispute is a result of the failure of Capita to make a pay offer for 2024, effectively attempting to force a pay freeze on its workforce…The current strike action began on Wednesday 26 March and continues until Monday 7 April. There will then be a separate period of action which begins on 7 April and continues until Tuesday 22 April. Prior to the current industrial action, the workers had already taken 13 days of industrial action, which began at the end of January read more

Liverpool lab workers ballot for strikes over patient safety fears (31 Mar) – Unite members working at the microbiology department at Liverpool Clinical Laboratories (which is part of the hospital trust) and play a key role in diagnosing infections at the hospital, analysing blood and tissue samples before a clinician uses the results to decide on a course of treatment such as antibiotics or surgery. But short staffing means some test results are taking three or four days to come back. This is preventing patients from promptly getting the treatment they need and could be putting people at risk of fatal infections such as sepsis, which can kill within 24 hours if left untreated…The Unite ballot closes on 15 April. Strikes could begin in late April read more 

Housing workers in Southwark to take further strike action over annual leave disgrace (31 Mar) – Workers to walk out as council gives more leave to those on higher salaries. Nearly 160 essential housing and estate services workers in the London Borough of Southwark will strike tomorrow (1 April) over the council’s disgraceful approach to annual leave. Unite members, who perform vital repairs and maintenance on council-owned housing stock and the council’s own properties get up to 12 fewer days annual leave than management grades in administrative positions. The lowest paid technicians get two fewer days than higher paid colleagues in the housing and estates department. Despite negotiations by Unite, the council has refused to compromise or offer additional leave to housing workers to bring them up to the same level. Workers will now head to the picket line to voice their anger on 1 April read more 

Bus services across Surrey and Hampshire under threat as workers ballot for strikes (31 Mar) – Unite members at Stagecoach to vote on industrial action after colleagues sacked without cause. Over a hundred drivers could take strike action later this spring after colleagues were unfairly dismissed, the Unite trade union announced today. Workers at Stagecoach South’s Aldershot depot who drive buses across Hampshire and Surrey are being balloted on strike action. This follows a campaign by the bus company to harass and intimidate Aldershot Branch officials that has seen two Branch officials unfairly dismissed. Unite members are furious at the treatment of two colleagues, the branch chair and the equalities rep, who were sacked on highly dubious grounds…The ballot opened on 25 March and closes on 14 April. If the ballot is successful, industrial action will take place later this spring. Any strike action will have a serious impact on all bus services running from the Aldershot depot read more 

Majority of workers at Sheffield refuse site want Unite recognition agreement (28 Mar) – Unite, GMB and non-unionised staff at Veolia depot want recognition for workers on strike. A petition signed by nearly 150 workers at a Sheffield refuse depot is proof that Unite members should have their union officially recognised. Unite members at the Lumley Street depot have been on strike since August seeking official recognition of their union by Veolia. The firm have so far refused to allow such recognition on the basis they already recognise another union (GMB). But a petition circulated among all workers at the depot has collected nearly 150 signatories calling on Veolia to recognise Unite. This shows that the petition shows huge support among other union and non-union members of staff…Unite is continuing its campaign of targeting Veolia’s worldwide operations and major shareholders. Activists have previously been in cities across Europe and this week are in Madrid to demonstrate at the offices of Veolia and its financial backers read more 

Unite ballots 700 Aberdeen council workers over ‘fire and rehire’ proposals (28 Mar) – Scottish Government accused of ‘ignoring’ bullying tactics by SNP led administration. Over 700 Unite workers at Aberdeen City Council are being balloted on strike action over ‘fire and re-hire’ proposals. The council has tabled a proposal to unilaterally impose a cut of two hours in the working week to 35-hours. The proposal if enacted would cut workers’ wages by up to 104 hours per year, impacting over 3,000 workers in one of Scotland’s largest councils. Unite has warned that widespread industrial action would lead to a significant reduction in provision for some of the city’s most vital services. The ballot opens today (Friday 28 March) and closes on 14 April read more 

Hampshire cable workers could strike over Prysmian’s ‘disgraceful’ plans to offshore BT work (26 Mar) – Prysmian Bishopstoke plans to cut 40 jobs and scrap only department of its kind in UK. Prysmian Bishopstoke telecom cable workers may strike over plans to cut 40 jobs and close the only department of its kind left in the UK, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Prysmian wants to move production for cables primarily for BT from Bishopstoke to Romania. The plan is designed to reduce labour costs despite Prysmian admitting to Unite during initial consultations that the Hampshire factory, which opened as the Telephone Cable Factory in 1967, is profitable. The factory’s workers are set to begin a consultative ballot for industrial action over the plans read more 

John Crane workers in Slough set to strike after a decade of below-inflation pay rises (26 Mar) – Unite members at engineering firm John Crane are set to strike from next month over pay. The 40 workers based in Slough have rejected a final pay offer of three per cent. This follows a decade of below-inflation pay increases, as well as receiving no pay award during Covid despite working through it and having their final salary pensions taken away in 2009. However, last year the previous CEO was awarded a 22 per cent increase and his severance package will see him drawing a pay packet until 2026. Strike action will take place on 3, 10, 17, 22 April and 1 and 6 May. The John Crane workers make mechanical engineering seals for bearings and pumps for the oil and gas industry read more 

Exam disruption looming as Liverpool Uni staff ballot for strikes over back to campus diktat (20 Mar) – Students in Liverpool are facing major disruption during key exam and clearing periods as hundreds of members of Unite employed at the University of Liverpool ballot for industrial action over changes to hybrid working. Over 340 professional services staff, including administrative employees who play a key part during these times, are currently being balloted after they were told they must have a minimum of 60 per cent attendance working on-site from 1 April 2025. Since the end of the Covid lockdown, staff undertaking hybrid working have been asked to work from campus two days a week. However, university management, at the behest of the university’s vice chancellor, have “unilaterally” mandated them to increase their time spent working on site, claiming this requirement is necessary for team working, without adequate negotiation with the workers read more  

TfL enforcement officers vital for safety and security intensify strike action (19 Mar) – Workers dealing with violence and aggression being paid thousands less than London Underground colleagues doing same job. Pay strikes by hundreds of officers within the Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security Directorate (CPOS) at Transport for London (TfL) have intensified. The workers, who deal with violence and aggression across the TfL network to keep the passengers and staff safe, are paid thousands less than their counterparts on the London Underground. In some cases, the difference can be an astonishing £27,000 a year despite the roles being equivalent. Strike action began in December, following the imposition of a pay offer by TfL that had been overwhelming rejected by the workers as unacceptable. Further industrial action was taken in February, with fresh strikes to take place on 20, 21 and 22 March read more  

Strike action by infectious disease prevention team at Guys and St Thomas’ hospitals escalates (17 Mar) – NHS trust not willing to provide decent facilities for staff to wash themselves after shifts. Senior staff get vastly better conditions. Strike action is to escalate at Guys and St Thomas’ hospitals by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) responsible for controlling the spread of infections after the trust refused to improve the appalling facilities the staff have to use after their shifts. Over 40 members of the Unite trade union who work in the RRT are to take part in a second round of strike action after no improvements to their working conditions or commitments to do so have been made by the trust. RRT staff work long shifts in unpleasant conditions, cleaning and sterilising areas of the hospital to prevent the outbreak of infectious diseases. Yet the trust has failed to provide adequate welfare facilities such as showers, changing areas, rest areas or toilets for staff to use before, during and after their shifts. Workers will now strike from 17-28 March inclusive to highlight their plight and put pressure on the trust to improve their working conditions. Staff are also unhappy about their job description and grading that means they are among the lowest paid workers in the hospital earning barely above minimum wage read more  

Striking Heathrow British Airways cleaners protest at airline’s HQ over poverty pay (14 Mar) – Demonstrations also hit employer OCS as industrial action escalates. Striking workers employed by facilities services firm OCS to clean British Airway’s offices at Heathrow will protest outside the airline’s headquarters in London. The workers, who are on strike over poverty pay, will also stage a demonstration outside OCS’ Feltham offices read more  

NI Ambulance workers vote for industrial action in shift dispute (11 Mar) – Management proposals risk leaving areas without adequate ambulance cover and are an attempt to make paramedics pay the price for a staffing crisis they did not cause. Paramedics and ambulance workers in Unite have voted decisively for industrial action in a recent consultative ballot. In total 86 per cent indicated a willingness to take strike action on management proposals to impose a new shift system. The new shifts were to be piloted in the South Eastern health and social care area for a year and would see a significant reduction in ambulance cover at nighttime. While the new shifts are only being trialled in the South East they will impact ambulance services across Northern Ireland. Existing NIAS cover arrangements see ambulances travel from across Northern Ireland to cover shortfalls. The new shifts will increase the likelihood for such long journeys which then has a knock-on impact leaving other areas, especially rural ones, with insufficient cover read more  

HSE: Unite serves notice of industrial action over staffing crisis (10 Mar) – Unite, which represents a range of grades across the Health Services Executive (HSE), said today (Monday) that it has served notice of industrial action over the staffing crisis resulting from the HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers Strategy.’ Last year it emerged that, despite the HSE’s claim that a recruitment ban had ended, vacancies are being benchmarked against the 2024 headcount. The result is that any vacancies unfilled in 2023 have effectively been lost to the health service, leaving a staffing shortfall of over 2,000 posts read more  

Royal Navy tugboat crew strikes suspended for talks (6 Mar) – Consultations over Devonport, Portsmouth, Faslane, Great Harbour Greenock and Kyle of Lochalsh Serco Marine services to go ahead. Strikes by around 300 Serco Marine workers providing Royal Navy afloat services have been suspended, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Following talks with the MoD, Serco and the Royal Navy, Unite has agreed to suspend strike action at Devonport, Portsmouth, Faslane, Great Harbour Greenock and Kyle of Lochalsh. Serco has agreed to delay signing its new contract with the MoD to allow for 30 days of union consultations read more  

Eurotunnel maintenance workers to take strike action over pay (5 Mar) – Unite members at Eurotunnel to walk out for five Sundays after talks break down. Following a breakdown in negotiations, drivers and maintenance crew working at Eurotunnel Services Ltd are to take strike action throughout March. Around a dozen members will walk out after rejecting a pay offer from the employer. Unite’s members do highly skilled and safety-critical work for Eurotunnel and Le Shuttle ensuring tunnels and track are in good working conditions read more  

Heathrow passenger assistance workers ballot for strikes over pay (26 Feb) – Nearly 450 Wilson James Heathrow workers demand pay parity with Gatwick colleagues. Nearly 450 Heathrow workers providing assistance to passengers with restricted mobility (PRM) are being balloted for strike action over pay. Unite, the UK’s leading union, said the workers are angry at being paid an average of 9.5 per cent less than Wilson James staff at Gatwick performing the same role. Wilson James’ reported gross profits of £35.4 million for the year ending July 2024, with the company’s gross turnover increasing by 17.7 per cent from the previous year. Heathrow Airport Limited, meanwhile, reported a profit before tax of £696 million in the nine months to 30 September 2024 read more  

Go North East workers consulted for strike action amid reign of terror by management (17 Feb) – Staff threatened with dismissal on spurious grounds. Safety of drivers and passengers in danger. Out-of-control management at a bus company in the North East of England has forced over 1,000 workers to be consulted on next steps, including the possibility of strike action, the Unite union announced today. Drivers and engineers at Go North East, based in depots across Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham, have been forced to the brink by a dangerous management culture that has seen drivers threatened with dismissal, suspended and sent home from work when health and safety issues are raised. Workers have been forced to resign, and management has imposed what one worker described as a “dictatorship” with “my way or the highway” style practices. Go North East has created a culture of fear to discourage members raising genuine safety concerns on behalf of passengers and drivers. Such behaviours are widely seen by union members as retribution by management after workers won a well-deserved pay rise after a bitter industrial battle in 2023 read more  

Wrexham Oscar Mayer fire and rehire workers ballot to extend long running strikes (10 Feb) – Long running strike action at Wrexham’s Oscar Mayer ready meal factory is set to stretch into the summer as workers ballot to extend industrial action. Around 550 Oscar Mayer workers have been striking since last September over the company’s attempt to slash pay by up to £3,000 a year by firing and rehiring them on inferior contracts. The workers are now being balloted to extend strike action over the dismissal of a handful of colleagues during the industrial action. Oscar Mayer disgracefully sacked the workers after they sent a letter stating they would be working under duress under the revised terms the company wants to impose read more  

Send messages of support to [email protected]   

Send messages of protest to [email protected]  

CWU  

CWU LIVE – Our Union is Proud of our LGBTQ+ Members (9 May) – On this week’s show we’re joined by Maria Exall – our NEC representative for LGBTQ+ members watch video

Capita BBC Audience Services members to vote on inflation-busting pay offer (8 May) – The CWU is recommending that Capita members working on the BBC Audience Services contract accept an inflation-busting pay offer being offered to them this week. After ongoing pay discussions where the union raised the question of the current financial situation, which remains volatile and uncertain, it was agreed that the company would offer a 5% wage increase for all employees, as well as an additional day of annual leave (which must be taken before December of this year). This is the first result – and a major one – of the new bargaining unit established for the group of workers, who manage public questions, comments, complaints and general feedback for the public broadcaster 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]

PCS calls on government to invest in public services, not scapegoat migrants (12 May) – Responding to the prime minister’s speech today on immigration, PCS warned against blaming migrants for the country’s problems read more

DWP organising roadshow “a real success” (8 May) – Our fifth DWP organising roadshow took place yesterday (7), bringing a range of organising-centred workshops and sessions to Leeds. The roadshows are a DWP group executive committee (GEC) project to support reps organising within their branches. Piloted in the Midlands, they have since taken place in the Scotland, London and South East, South West, and Wales regions and nations read more

PCS opposes imposition of 60% office attendance in DWP (8 May) – PCS condemns the DWP’s announcement that it intends to impose a minimum 60% office attendance for hybrid working from 1 September 2025 on staff in all grades from AA to Grade 6. In February’s “Ask Peter Live” session the permanent secretary responded to a question on 60% hybrid working by saying, “I’ll be saying a bit more about that in a few days’ time…”. The group executive committee (GEC) immediately issued a briefing to members stating that there had been no meaningful consultation on a move from 40% to 60% in office working. Consultation began under heavy embargo and DWP has announced today (8) that it intends to impose a minimum 60% office attendance for hybrid working from 1 September 2025 on staff in all grades from AA to Grade 6. DWP has provided no actual reasoning or justification for this move, their only explanation being that 60% office attendance was always the aim of the Cabinet Office read more

Incident at Tate Modern (7 May) – PCS understands there was an incident at Tate Modern in London yesterday (6) where a member of the public died after falling from the Natalie Bell Building. Understandably, this incident has left many staff members deeply shaken – particularly those who witnessed it. Unfortunately, this is the second time an incident like this has occurred at Tate Modern in recent years. We would like to express our sympathy to the family and friends of the person who died. As a matter of priority, we are working with the branch executive committee (BEC) to ensure our members are being supported in the wake of this horrific incident. Understandably, members have considerable concerns about the handling of the incident by Tate’s leadership read more

PCS member forced to leave UK due to Skilled Worker Visa rules (6 May) – Farouq Ahmed, who works for DWP, failed to meet the Home Office skilled worker salary threshold. Due to the low levels of pay in DWP, and an anomaly in the calculation of hours worked, PCS members who have previously worked on graduate visas, following completion of university degree courses, cannot access a Skilled Worker Visa and remain working in DWP as they do not meet the salary threshold of £15.88 per hour. Farouq completed a Master of Science in Business Analytics at the University of Stirling, paying over £22,000 in tuition fees. Since then he has been working in the DWP as a case enforcement manager in Child Maintenance Service and has been dedicated to ensuring children receive the financial support they are owed. Farouq has made a built a life and made friends here and has made significant financial and emotional investments to the UK. Farouq added his personal story to the letter sent to the prime minister on behalf of PCS by the general secretary Fran Heathcote and DWP group president Angela Grant read more

HMRC Benton Park View strike extended (2 May) – Strike action in defence of the three sacked PCS reps will now continue until Friday 6 June. PCS members working in Employer Services at Benton Park View have been on strike since 23 December in support of three reps who were sacked by HMRC. Gordon Askew, Rachel Farmer and Joel Hamilton were dismissed at the end of last year because of their trade union activity. PCS has informed HMRC that the strike action will now continue until Friday 6 June. Members working in the branch report that backlogs continue to grow and the services to the customer continue to deteriorate, while members in other areas have reported calls being received from agents who would usually have called the Employer Services (ES) Helpline but who have become frustrated by long waits and even calls being blocked due to the volumes of outstanding calls read more. Take action, show your support and send solidarity messages to the reps and branch, email HMRC group secretary Steve Swainston: [email protected] read more. Members can also support the campaign by donating to the fighting fund. Donations can be made to the PCS account with the reference ‘BPV Strikes’ –   

Account name: PCS Fighting Fund  
Levy account number: 20331490  
Sort code: 60-83-01

Ofgem staff balloted for strike action (1 May) – Members working for Ofgem are in dispute over pay, jobs, office attendance and industrial relations. Hundreds of PCS members employed by the energy regulator in Glasgow, London and Cardiff are being balloted for strike action. The ballot opened today (1) and closes at noon on 12 June. PCS has taken the decision to ballot its members at Ofgem following a series of provocative moves by the energy regulator over a number of issues read more

Strong support for MHCLG strike (23 Apr) – There has been a great turnout by striking PCS members in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Members working in the Newcastle office, which is under imminent threat of closure, have led the strike with 9 days of industrial action which started yesterday and ends on 2 May. Members at other offices threatened with closure — in Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, Truro, and Warrington — also began a 4-day strike yesterday. There has been strong support on picket lines in Newcastle and Sheffield by reps and members in the department and by colleagues across PCS, in particular from members in the Home Office, Department for Education and NHS England read more

ONS members vote to escalate industrial action (2 Apr) – PCS members in the Office for National Statistics have voted for strike action in their dispute over a forced return to workplaces. In a ballot that closed on Monday (31 March), 68% of Office for National Statistics (ONS) members taking part voted to take strike action while 91% voted to take action short of a strike (ASOS), on a 71% turnout. Since May 2024, over 1100 PCS members working for the ONS in various locations (Newport in South Wales, Titchfield in Hampshire, London, Darlington, Manchester and Edinburgh) have been taking action short of a strike by refusing to comply with the new attendance policy. They have refused to follow an instruction to spend at least 40% of their time in the office and are refusing to work overtime, out of hours and out of grade. This action had no tangible impact on the ONS’s outputs, proving PCS’s argument that there was nothing to be gained by the attendance policy change. To increase the pressure on the employer, members had been working-to-rule since 27 August 2024. By extending the strike mandate by a further six months, this ballot result will allow PCS to further ramp up the pressure on ONS management over their insistence that staff spend at least 40% of the time in a designated workplace read more

End of first week of strike action for Met Police Intel staff (21 Mar) – PCS members working for the Met Police in Met Intel have been taking strike action in their dispute over a forced return to offices. PCS members working for the Met Police are campaigning against the pulling of an agreed blended working framework and its replacement with an imposed policy which mandates at least 60% a week in an office workplace read more  

Met Police strikers ramp up pressure on employer (20 Mar) – Met Police PCS members who are out on strike for 2 weeks are ramping up pressure on their employer to negotiate over imposed mandated office attendance read more  

Donations have started to pour into PCS’s fighting fund, from non-striking PCS members who want to support the fight against 60% mandated office attendance, an issue affecting many across PCS. You can make a donation online. Please use our quick form to email the London mayor to ask him to intervene and work with the Home Secretary to find a resolution for our members read more  

Border Force Maritime staff vote to strike (13 Mar) – Over 120 PCS members working on patrol boats in the English Channel have voted for strike action after allowances have been frozen for years. In a ballot of the members, which closed today (13) almost 99% voted for strike action on a 64% turnout. Members in Border Force Maritime who include the Cutters fleet that patrols UK waters 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, will now consider strike action read more  

Fujitsu members to take more strike action (12 Mar) – The members will walk out for 22 days in March and April in their dispute over pay. The PCS members employed by Fujitsu Services UK on HMRC contracts will walk out for 22 days from March 21 to April 23. The dispute comes after their employer imposed a 1.5% pay offer while their civil service colleagues received 5% for doing similar jobs. The members took two days’ strike action in January to coincide with the tax deadline for self-employed people; the new round of action is expected to affect time-sensitive work, putting Fujitsu at risk of financial penalties for missing targets. Members are angry that Fujitsu reports large profits from the HMRC account while offering them below-inflation pay rises read more  

Support striking CAA members (10 Mar) – PCS members working for the Civil Aviation Authority escalate their pay dispute by taking a further two days of strike action from tomorrow (11). Our members based at Gatwick Airport and Canary Wharf escalated their dispute over pay with well-supported joint strike action last month with Prospect members. Our members also walked out in January. They are angry that while some of them received a pay offer of just 3%, chief executive Rob Bishton last year was given a 32% pay rise read more  

G4S security officers vote for more strike action (3 Mar) – The members who work in Jobcentres have already taken over six months of strike action in their long-running dispute. In a ballot that closed on Friday (28 February), PCS members working as security guards for G4S on the DWP contract have sent their employer the strongest possible message by voting 97.2% in favour of taking more strike action in their dispute read more  

PHSO members start week of targeted strike action (24 Feb) – The week’s action follows a one day strike by all PCS members at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman earlier this month. 40 members who carry out a range of casework and administrative roles relating to complaints and investigations about the NHS and other UK government bodies are taking five days of strike action this week. The dispute at the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is over pay, a compulsory return to the office and proposals that could see extra responsibilities delegated to more junior staff without any extra pay. On 12 February over 200 PCS members at the PHSO held a one day strike. This week’s targeted strike action is being taken by members who work in sections which have a high turnover of work that others rely on. It is anticipated that backlogs of work will build up quickly. The strike involves members who are mainly based at Citygate in Manchester and the branch will hold picket lines outside the offices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8-10.30am.  Please go along to Citygate, Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HQ to show your support read more  

Land Registry Action Short of a Strike begins (22 Jan) – Nearly 4000 PCS members in England and Wales have begun an indefinite work to rule. PCS members in Land Registry began their action short of a strike (ASOS) yesterday (21) in pursuit of the objectives voted for in their industrial action mandate read more  

Prospect  

Prospect sets out its stall for 2025 pay talks with MOD (9 May) – Prospect and fellow MOD Civil Service Unions have submitted a position paper to MOD, paving the way for this year’s pay talks, but which also highlights the imperative to address both short-term issues, as well as long-term structural problems in need of urgent repair read more

NESO’s Heathrow power outage report shows critical importance of network resiliency and our members’ work (8 May) – The underlining cause of the fire at a substation, which lead to a major power outage at Heathrow Airport remains unknown, according to an interim report published by the National Energy System Operator read more

Statement on the Supreme Court Ruling in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers (7 May) – Prospect’s commitment to trans and non-binary members is stamped into the Objects of the union: “to promote equal opportunities for all members within the Union and within their employment irrespective of race, ethnic origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or religion.” We have published a new guide for representatives to Supporting trans and non-binary members at work read more

Prospect members at the CAA to take strike action (28 Jan) – Prospect members working at the Civil Aviation authority (CAA) will take strike action in a dispute over pay. Aircraft maintenance mechanic with a flash light inspects plane engine in a hangar. This will be the first time Prospect members have taken strike action there in 40 years. Strike action at CAA HQ in Crawley will be for 24 hours on 6 February.   

Industrial action short of a strike, which has been ongoing since 20 January consisting of working to rule and an overtime ban, will pause for the duration of the strike, resuming on 7 February. Ongoing action short of a strike could cause delays across the industry to things like fleet refits, the introduction of new models, licensing of new hanger facilities. The CAA imposed a 3-4% pay offer on staff after going through the motions of negotiating – an offer which neither kept pace with the industry nor civil service (The CAA is a Non-Departmental Public Body) read more.

GMB 

Scrapping care visas ‘potentially catastrophic’ (12 May) – A Government plan to scrap care visas will be potentially catastrophic for the sector, GMB Union told the Department for Health and Social Care in a meeting today [Monday]. The new white paper outlines plans to reduce legal migration by removing the Social Care Visa route and increasing thresholds for workers read more

TfL private hire licensing system ‘not fit for purpose’ (12 May) – Private hire drivers have been hit by fresh issues with TfL’s licencing system, resulting in loss of earnings and significant stress read more

Despite a short reprieve for the EOC in February, when the Trust’s Board rejected the closure plans, it is now slated for closure in the next 12 to 18 months. The EOC centre staff have been told to either relocate to the more expensive areas of Chelmsford or Norwich, secure another role within the Trust, or find themselves made redundant. The possible impact on patient safety is of grave concern, as two EOCs will be left to manage ambulance provision for an area encompassing six counties, four major airports, and several large towns and cities. EEAST is currently subject to a written warning from the CQC over failures including staffing levels and call wait times read more

Bedford emergency call centre closure ‘a potential threat to public safety’ (8 May) – The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has reconfirmed its intention to close the Bedford Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), which could place significant strain on ambulance cover across the East of England and leave a large number of staff out of a job. Despite a short reprieve for the EOC in February, when the Trust’s Board rejected the closure plans, it is now slated for closure in the next 12 to 18 months. The EOC centre staff have been told to either relocate to the more expensive areas of Chelmsford or Norwich, secure another role within the Trust, or find themselves made redundant. The possible impact on patient safety is of grave concern, as two EOCs will be left to manage ambulance provision for an area encompassing six counties, four major airports, and several large towns and cities. EEAST is currently subject to a written warning from the CQC over failures including staffing levels and call wait times read more

Amazon workers score big win in legal case (7 May) – Amazon workers have scored a big win as their legal challenge against the company begins. A ruling during a preliminary hearing at London Central Employment Tribunal yesterday [Tuesday] means Amazon staff will now have their full evidence heard about the company’s union-busting actions when the case begins. The next hearing is on 19 December 2025. Amazon’s lawyers had attempted to force a separate hearing on a technical point that would have shielded Amazon from having to explain their actions. The case centres around Amazon’s behaviour ahead of a vote, which saw 49.5 per cent of the 2,600 workers back union recognition at the Midlands facility in July last year, falling short by just 28 votes. The result followed weeks of anti-union campaigning at the Coventry site, including bosses plastering QR codes across the warehouse that encouraged and made it easier for GMB members to leave the union read more

Workers meet MPs to call for changes to equal pay law (7 May) – Workers will meet MPs in Parliament today [Wednesday] calling on them to back changes to equal pay legislation. The event, which takes place at 2pm today in Portcullis House, is hosted by GMB Union which is behind 24 local authority equal pay claims across the UK on behalf of tens of thousands of workers. GMB Union has long campaigned for changes to the law around equal pay and was instrumental in getting commitments to do so into Labour’s election manifesto read more

More than 150,000 council and school workers vote on pay offer (6 May) – GMB Union has recommended more than 150,000 members working for councils and schools reject the local government pay offer. Local authority and education workers across England and Wales have been offered a 3.2 per cent pay rise for 2025/26.

GMB’s Local Government and Schools Committees has unanimously recommended a rejection and to seek support for industrial action to secure an improved offer. The consultative ballot – which will include a commitment to industrial action – opens on 12 May and closes on 20 June read more

River Thames weir and lockkeepers in strike vote (6 May) – River Thames weir and lockkeepers have begun voting on strike action over safety concerns, GMB has said. Workers will decide whether to take industrial action over ‘budget-driven decisions’ that are ‘putting people and property at risk’. There are only 52 permanent staff on the river, plus 10 temporary posts which expire at the end of this year and have yet to be filled. According to a 2008 EA assessment, more than 90 staff were needed during peak season. The ballot opened on Friday [2 May] and closes on 23 May read more

Dozens protests Basingstoke cab office after union rep stood down (9 Apr) – The rep was discriminated against for carrying out trade union duties. More than 50 drivers at Basingstoke’s Alpha Cars protested outside the firm’s office on Monday. The drivers, who are members of GMB Union are angry that their colleague whom they have elected to be their union rep has been stood down by the company. Since the drivers are self-employed, the driver could not be sacked but has been told he will not be used by the company going forward read more

Strike action begins at Tower Hamlets primary school over staff cuts (1 Apr) – School support staff at St Luke’s Primary School in Tower Hamlets are today [Tuesday 1 April] starting strike action over reduced staffing levels. A further walk out will take place on Thursday this week. The strike ballot saw 100 per cent of participating members vote in favour. A restructure at the school will cut the number of teaching assistants from 28 to 21 – a reduction of 25 per cent – while the overall workload is unchanged. The school – which has a large proportion of pupils with special educational needs – has failed to demonstrate how these staffing levels will work in practice. To date, the school has not shared a risk assessment outlining the impact of these cuts on the safety of the staff or children read more

Banks hotels and pubs face money shortage as cash workers strike (24 Mar) – Banks, hotels, ATMs and pubs face a cash shortage as more than 1,000 G4S workers vote to strike over a real terms pay cut. GMB members deliver money to companies such as NatWest, Lloyds Santander, Tesco, Asda, Wetherspoons, McDonalds and Travelodge. Workers have voted to strike with a majority of 91 per cent, on a 59 per cent turnout. They after being offered a deal as low as 1.4 per cent in some cases, while G4S’s directed competitor Loomis offered workers 4.6 per cent earlier this year. Industrial action could take place as early as the Easter bank holiday, with business and ATMs potentially left without cash, while airports may run out of foreign currency read more  

Whisky workers vote on strike action after talks bail (5 Mar) – Whisky workers at Inver House distillery will vote on strike action after refusing a 3 per cent pay rise. The Lanarkshire-based company, with distilleries across the Highlands, refused to re-open talks and engage with conciliation service Acas as workers seek a 4 per cent deal. A consultative ballot showed 94 per cent support for a vote on industrial action if talks broke down. The three-week ballot of GMB members on possible industrial action closes on 24 March. Inver House has five distilleries across the Highlands and produces whiskies including Balblair, Balmemach, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney and Speyburn. The company is a subsidiary of ThaiBev, one of the biggest drinks companies in Southeast Asia which recorded profits of £600m last year read more  

South London parking wardens stop issuing tickets (3 Mar) – Forced by ‘penny-pinching’ employer, wardens across four boroughs will stop issuing tickets from today. More than 200 parking wardens and environmental officers across four London Boroughs are due to stop issuing tickets as a form of industrial action from today [Monday 3rd March]. This is the continuation of a dispute which has seen GMB members take 14 days of strike action since November. The action is being taken by wardens in Wandsworth, Richmond, Lambeth and Kingston, and will continue indefinitely or until APCOA agree to settle the dispute read more  

Britain faces potential Nandos shortage union warns (20 Feb) – Workers supplying the UK’s favourite Peri-Peri chicken are preparing to strike, says GMB. GMB Union has today warned of the potential for Nandos shortages on highstreets and delivery apps across the country. The warning comes as workers at the restaurant chain’s main poultry provider, Avara Foods, are considering strike action. Over 500 Avara workers could join the strike action after bosses threatened de-recognition of their trade union. Avara is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of poultry products to supermarkets and restaurants, including Nandos 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    

Stop the Council Cuts – Sign the petition: Save our Services – Nottingham City Unison   

Reform of care must be priority as overseas recruitment ends (12 May) – Crackdown on unscrupulous employers is welcome. Commenting on the government’s immigration white paper announced by the prime minister earlier today (Monday), UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said: “Building a skilled, better-paid domestic workforce in social care is vital, as is a proper career structure. But none of this will happen overnight. Until it does, the sector will be stuck in a doom-loop of staffing shortages. It’s only the recruitment of workers from overseas that’s stopped the system from falling over…” read more

NHS and social care would have collapsed long ago without overseas staff (11 May) – Many workers will be understandably concerned about their futures. Reacting to comments made today (Sunday) by home secretary Yvette Cooper, ahead of the publication of the government’s immigration white paper tomorrow, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The NHS and the care sector would have collapsed long ago without the thousands of workers who’ve come to the UK from overseas…” read more

Job and service cuts won’t help the NHS improve services for patients, says UNISON (9 May) – Ministers should give trusts the breathing space to deliver the improvements the public wants to see. Commenting on a survey published today (Friday) by NHS Providers, which warns NHS trusts across England are planning to cut jobs and patient services, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “Forcing the NHS to make drastic cuts after a decade and a half of underfunding is absolutely the wrong thing to do…” read more

Damning report should lead to devolved probation service (6 May) – Toxic conditions in the service are a legacy of Grayling reforms and underfunding. Commenting on the publication today (Tuesday) of Jennifer Rademaker’s report into bullying, harassment and discrimination within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, UNISON head of probation Mike Short said: “This long overdue report confirms what Probation Service staff have known for years, that bullying, harassment and discrimination are rife…” read more

The inspiring St Luke’s school strikers E14 are back on the picket line this Thurs 1 May. UNISON Teaching Assistants and NEU Teachers are striking together to demand a safe school. Rally at 8.40am & are doing a call out to activists to join us read more on Tower Hamlets Unison website

Pay Fair for Patient Care: Nottingham University Hospitals – Hundreds of healthcare support workers at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) will take strike action over pay. Staff at Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital are set to walk out on Thursday 10 and Friday 11, with further strikes planned for 17, 22 and 28 April. In a recent ballot, 94% of those who voted backed strike action read more.

*To donate to the strike fund: pay online to Unison NUHT 20122 Branch, acc no. 20370066, sort code 60-83-01 or pay be cheque to Unison NUHT 20122 Branch and post to Unison East Midlands – Unit E, Nottingham One. 154 Canal Street. Nottingham. NG1 7HG

Donate to show solidarity with members at Livv Housing (24 Mar) – UNISON members have been taking action over pay since last October. Christina McAnea joined Livv Housing members on the picket line earlier this year. UNISON is launching a national appeal to support members at Livv Housing on Merseyside, who are taking strike action in a long-running dispute that stems from years of below-inflation pay increases read more  

For strike dates, read more on Knowsley Unison website and Facebook page. Please donate to strike funds by emailing [email protected] for details  

Staff at Gloucester and Cheltenham hospitals strike over pay – “Phlebotomists are vital to the health service and deserve much better than the treatment they’ve received.” Read more.

Please show phlebotomists your support and solidarity by donating to their strike hardship fund:

Make a donation via SumUp

UNISON Gloucestershire DHC Branch 21311

Sort code: 60-83-01

Account number: 20301750

Reference: strikefund

Picketing and plan of action for this week:

Monday 12th: picket as usual Cheltenham General Hospital from 07.30 to 12.00
Tuesday 13th: joint picket will now be in Gloucester Royal Hospital from 07.30 to 12.00
Wednesday 14th: TBC
Thursday 15th: TBC
Friday 16th: TBC

Support Manchester Mental Health strikes by Unison and Unite members read more on Mancunian Matters website   

NIPSA  

Industrial Action by Teaching Staff (12 Feb) – You will be aware that the teaching staff have entered into a period of industrial action by taking action short of strike action in relation to teacher’s pay. NIPSA members are encouraged to support this action and should only undertake work in accordance with their normal duties and job descriptions. Support can be shown by not undertaking any additional responsibilities that may arise directly from the action short of strike action. Please extend solidarity to our teaching colleagues fighting for fair pay read more  

Royal College of Nursing    

Mental health wait times in A&E a ‘scandal in plain sight’, says RCN (13 May) – The government must significantly invest in mental health nursing, with patient demand far outpacing staffing read more

Using nursing students to plug NHS staff shortages must end now (11 May) – We’re calling on the government for better support for students, including universal maintenance grants that account for cost-of-living pressures and a loan forgiveness model read more

RCN and BMA in Wales unite to launch petition to end corridor care (29 Apr) – The Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association in Wales raise the alarm on patient safety in Welsh hospitals and health care services read more

Consultation on NHS Scotland pay offer open (23 Apr) – Our member consultation on the NHS pay offer for 2025-26 and 2026-27 is now open read more

Confirm NHS pay rises now, RCN tells government (15 Apr) – The Pay Review Body’s report was delivered to the UK government late last week, but details on the 2025/26 NHS pay awards still haven’t been confirmed 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    

RCM

RCM urges members in Scotland to have their say on pay offer (16 Apr) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is calling on all its members working in the NHS in Scotland to have their say on the pay offer announced last week. The call comes as the RCM today opens a three-week consultation with all Agenda for Change (AfC) midwives and maternity care assistants (MCAs) and maternity support workers (MSWs). The offer the RCM is asking its members to ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ is a two- year pay offer which equates to an uplift of 4.25% for all NHS in 2025-26 and 3.75% for 2026- 27. This is a cumulative uplift of 8.16%. Crucially the RCM have ensured the offer is protected from any rises in inflation by securing a commitment that each year of the pay deal will be one percentage point higher than the average CPI inflation rate of that year read more

CSP  

Protect physio jobs and rehab services from devastating cuts, CSP says (9 May) – The CSP is warning of the consequences of cutting physio roles and rehab centres as NHS trusts across England face drastic budget measures read more

CSP responds to leaked pay body recommendation (28 Apr) – The Pay Review Body (PRB) for the NHS in England is planning to recommend that NHS workers be given pay rises ‘close to 3 per cent’ for 2025/26, according to a report in The Times newspaper read more

Voting opens on NHS pay offer in Scotland (23 Apr) – CSP members employed by NHS Scotland are being urged to vote on a new two-year pay offer in a consultation that opens today read more

Two-year pay offer for NHS Scotland staff (8 Apr) – CSP members working in the NHS in Scotland are to vote on a two-year pay offer negotiated by health unions with the Scottish government read more

SOR

SoR members in Wales urged to sign petition to end corridor care (12 May) – The petition has been submitted to the Welsh government for consideration. SoR members based in Wales are being urged to support a petition from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Wales and the British Medical Association (BMA) Cymru Wales to end corridor care. Corridor care is the practice of treating patients in areas not designated for treatment, such as hospital corridors or waiting rooms. This is usually the result of a lack of resources or high demand for treatment. An email has been sent to all SoR members based in Wales encouraging them to sign the petition, which the RCN and the BMA have submitted to the Welsh government. The email explains how corridor care affects radiology patients specifically and calls for an end to the practice to ensure dignity and comfort for patients read more

BMA

Resident doctors in England announce ballot for industrial action (2 May) – Resident doctors in England have announced dates for their ballot for renewed industrial action over pay. With three weeks having passed since they warned the Government of the consequences of the absence of a reasonable, timely pay offer, the BMA’s resident doctors committee (RDC) has chosen to ballot its members for strike action. The ballot will open on 27 May and close on 7 July 2025 read more

NEU  

Teaching apprenticeships (9 May) – Commenting on changes to the calendar of teaching apprenticeships, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Bringing the post-graduate teaching apprenticeship calendar in line with all other teacher training programmes is a welcome move and an act of common sense. It is extremely challenging for schools to support trainees properly in the current funding environment. Clearly, if the deep problems in teacher retention are not solved then there will be fewer experienced teachers to support the new entrants. The government needs a plan not just for recruitment but retention also, and one that properly addresses the real-terms funding shortfall that schools have endured for far too long. There are fundamental issues affecting the sector as a whole: pay that is too low, workload that is too high, and inadequate funding. Rachel Reeves is forcing 76 per cent of primary schools and 94 per cent of secondary schools to make cuts this year. Refusing to fund any pay award for 2025/26 simply won’t wash. It will only make matters worse…” read more

Harris Federation plans to cut teaching staff (7 May) – Commenting on the news that Harris are planning to cut significant numbers of teachers, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The decision by Harris Trust to cut 45 teaching staff is yet another underhand move by its CEO Dan Moynihan. This is a federation whose latest financial records show they have £21 million in reserves. Cuts to teaching staff means a cut for children and young people and the education they receive. Attempts to make financial savings at the coal face is outrageous from a man who earns over half a million, has over 46 executive staff earning more than £130,000, with the top 12 of those earning over £200,000 at a combined cost of c.£3.2 million. Harris is blaming the cuts on unfunded teacher and support staff pay rises for 2025/26. However, the Government is yet to release the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendations or confirm funding arrangements for next year. This is truly cart before horse management. The underhand practices of individually targeting staff must end. Negotiations with staff trade unions must start. The NEU is consulting with its sister union the NASUWT to ensure that Harris teachers are protected, and that children’s education in Harris schools is not undermined. Profit and personal gain over teaching standards in our schools will not be stood for.” Read more

Initial strike date at Roedean School suspended following negotiations (29 Apr) – Following negotiations with the employer members (both teachers and support staff) of the National Education Union (NEU) at Roedean School, Brighton, have agreed to suspend strike action this week in a dispute over redundancies, cuts to pay and teachers’ pensions. The suspension was announced after the school management agreed to put a new union offer to the School’s Council (governing body). Strike dates remain in place as follows: 6, 7, 13, 14, 15 May. Pickets will take place between 7am-9am on these dates

United Learning ballot (26 Feb) – The National Education Union has begun a formal strike ballot of around 400 teacher members working at 14 of United Learning’s independent schools in a dispute over pay. The employer’s pay offer is between 2-3%, depending on the workplace. This is insulting. If it were to be adopted, this would see teachers’ pay rates in many of the trust’s independent schools fall even further below the levels set by the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document for state schools with a number of schools falling below this level for the first time. The union is calling on United Learning to address longstanding pay erosion in the 14 schools with an 8% pay offer. We are seeking a commitment of parity with pay scales in the state sector. This is the first time there has been a national ballot at the trust, one of the largest operators of independent schools in the UK. The ballot opens today (26 February) and closes on 26 March, with action anticipated for week commencing 28 April read more  

Please support the following strikes:-  

NASUWT  

NASUWT responds as Ofsted refuses to delay new inspection framework (12 May) – Commenting on reports that Ofsted will move forward with its new inspection framework in November despite multiple calls for delay, and will also publish its consultation results later than planned, Matt Wrack, Acting General Secretary for NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said: “When Ofsted wants answers, teachers have no choice but to comply – often at great expense to their wellbeing. But when teachers want answers from Ofsted, they are met with silence…” read more

Westbourne Academy teachers strike over constant disruptive behaviour (12 May) – NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union members at Westbourne Academy in Ipswich will begin strike action on Tuesday 13th May due to untenable levels of classroom disruption. A large group of pupils at Westbourne Academy are refusing to attend lessons and instead choose to roam the school, disrupting other lessons and engaging in threatening behaviour towards staff and other pupils. Teachers have sought help from school leadership but no plan has worked in practice, with teachers often waiting for most or all of their lessons for urgent assistance read more

Academy trust with £21 million in the bank condemned over redundancies (6 May) – NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union today condemned a London Academy Trust which is seeking to force dozens of teachers from their jobs and using underhand tactics to try and shut out unions from any meaningful consultation process. Harris Federation, whose Chief Executive Sir Dan Moynihan is the highest paid academy boss and earns over £500k a year, is trying to make 45 teachers redundant and refuses to hold a collective consultation with trade unions, including NASUWT. Alongside refusing to hold a collective consultation, Harris have failed to provide a business case for the redundancies or any financial justification at all. At the end of the last academy trust financial year the Trust had reserves of £21.5 million read more

Epsom teachers strike to protect pensions (6 May) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Ewell Castle Senior and Prep Schools in Epsom are starting the first of seven days of planned strike action tomorrow (Wednesday) after being threatened with dismissal from their jobs unless they agree to new contracts that would leave them worse off in retirement. The Employer is seeking to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and impose inferior pension arrangements on teachers which would adversely affect their future financial security. Teachers have been threatened with fire and rehire if they do not agree to sign new contracts amending their pension entitlements read more

Northern Ireland FE college members vote for industrial action (16 Apr) – The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in Northern Ireland, has welcomed the result of a ballot of its members in Further Education (FE) colleges, which showed strong support for industrial action in response to ongoing disputes over pay, workload, and conditions. In the ballot, 74.3% of members voted in favour of strike action, while an overwhelming 98.6 % supported action short of strike, demonstrating deep frustration over the failure to address long-standing concerns read more

Kent teachers strike over attempts to downgrade pensions (27 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Farringtons School in Chislehurst, Kent, are today taking strike action over changes to their pensions which will make them significantly worse off in their retirement. The fee paying school is seeking to force teachers to accept detrimental changes to their pension contributions. Those wishing to remain in Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) will see cuts to their pay or will have to join an inferior pension scheme. The employer has refused to recognise the NASUWT in discussions over the proposals and members have been left with no other option than to take strike action to seek to protect their incomes and their pensions. Further days of strike action are set to be taken on Tuesday 4 March, Wednesday 5 March, Tuesday 11 March, Wednesday 12 March and Thursday 13 March read more   

Stockport teachers strike over violence and abuse from pupils (26 Feb) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Werneth School in Stockport will take the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Thursday) over working practices which have led to teachers being unacceptably exposed to poor student behaviour including verbal and physical assaults. Changes to working practices at the start of the autumn term have led to an increase in disruptive and violent behaviour from pupils. Four days of strike action originally due to take place last December were withdrawn to give the employer an opportunity to resolve the dispute. However, despite some changes, members do not feel substantive improvements have been made and have been left with no choice but to reinstate strike action read more  

Strike action at Reading school over pensions fire and rehire threat (24 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Leighton Park School in Reading are taking the first of six planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over attempts by the employer to make teachers choose between their pension and their pay. Teachers have been told they must make a choice between moving to an inferior pension scheme or remaining in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) but accepting a 7% pay cut. Furthermore, teachers have been threatened with being fired and reemployed on new contracts if they do not voluntarily accept these changes read more  

Real-term pay cut prompts strike action at Liverpool schools (21 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Merchant Taylors’ Schools in Liverpool (Merchant Taylors’ Senior Boys and Girls and Stanfield Preparatory School) will be taking the first of five planned days of strike action on Wednesday over teachers’ pay. Members have been given only a 1.14% pay award for the current academic year, in comparison to the 5.5% rise awarded to teachers in the state sector read more  

Teachers at Liverpool school take strike action over adverse management practices (3 Feb) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Gateacre School in Liverpool will be taking the first of five planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over concerns about the way in which they are being managed and a failure to recognise workforce trade unions. 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. This includes excessive workloads and working hours, the failure to address poor pupil behaviour and excessive monitoring and surveillance of staff. The employer has also failed to agree to any collective bargaining arrangements with education workforce trade unions. Northern Schools Trust, which officially took over the running of the school in December, derecognised workforce trade unions several years ago read more  

EIS  

EIS to consult members on industrial action in teacher class contact dispute (9 May) – The national Council of the EIS has today agreed to open a consultative industrial action ballot of its members, as a dispute over teacher class contact time intensifies. A formal dispute was declared three months ago, as a result of the failure of government and employers to deliver any progress towards the Scottish Government’s 2021 manifesto commitment to address longstanding issues with teacher workload by reducing teachers’ maximum class contact time to 21 hours per week. With no proposals forthcoming from the Scottish Government and local authorities on the delivery of this commitment, the EIS will now move to ballot its members and seek their views on industrial action in pursuit of a resolution to the dispute read more

Impact of recent legal decisions in schools (7 May) – The EIS has today written to the Cabinet Secretary seeking immediate and clear guidance for schools on the practical implementation of the legal framework related to education, in light of the Supreme Court decision of ‘For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers’ and in the recent Court of Session decision against Scottish Borders Council read more

RGU Lecturers enter third day of strike action in the face of no movement by management on job security (7 May) – Lecturing staff at Robert Gordon University (RGU) are now on their third day of strike action, demonstrating their determination to protect jobs and oppose proposed compulsory redundancies. Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers’ Association (EIS-ULA) are picketing again today, maintaining their presence at the university’s campus, where they will be joined by national EIS representatives, including Vice-President Adam Sutcliffe and Ex President Paula McEwan. The continuing strike action highlights the concerns among staff over the potential impact of the planned cuts on theirs and their colleagues’ jobs, as well as on the academic provision for students read more

INTO  

Teachers’ Pay And Allowances From 1 September 2024 (14 Apr) – Details of new pay scales and allowance following new pay agreement from September 2024 read more

Member Update: Friday 4th April – Dear Members, After the NITC rejected the management side pay award on the 28th of March, The Minister of Education invited the leads from NITC to a series of meetings during which further revisions and amendments to the offer have been negotiated. The Minister is aware of the volume of workload issues affecting teachers and wants to find a constructive approach to addressing them. He has offered in addition an Independent Review of Workload to be concluded by November 2025. This has the full authority of the Minister and his office. The INTO feels that this addition of an independent review covering all aspects of workload would be the best vehicle to address areas of concern. The review body will consist of a three-person independent panel including a nominated member from NITC and a member nominated by Management Side. This panel will not only review all aspects of workload but will also monitor the implementation of the Heads of Agreement commitments previously outlined in the Management Side Offer. The Northern Committee and the Central Executive Committee of INTO have considered all options in relation to the revised offer from the Minister and the jeopardy around the rejection of the 5.5% pay offer backdated to September 2024 and have decided to accept the revised offer on behalf of the membership as set out in Rule 121, part e, within the INTO Rules and Constitution (2024). Acceptance of the offer will result in an end to Action Short of Strike. We anticipate that this will be in effect as of 00:01 on Monday 7th April read more

UCU    

UCU Stop the Cuts campaign

Sign petition against the education cuts 

“Reform-light” white paper could see “universities going under”, says UCU (12 May) – Responding to the immigration white paper, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “This anti-growth white paper is straight out of the Reform playbook. With higher education already under severe financial pressure, any further restrictions which deter international students from coming to the UK could lead to universities going under…” read more

Universities under ‘severe financial stress’, says UCU in response to HESA and OfS (8 May) – The University and College Union (UCU) has today responded to the publication of data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and Office for Students (OfS) read more

UCU comment on £5.5million budget gap and job cuts at Aberdeen University (6 May) – Commenting on today’s (Tuesday) announcement from the Aberdeen University Principal that the university has a £5.5million budget gap and will be seeking job cuts through voluntary severance and enhanced retirement in five schools and disciplines, Mary Senior, Scotland official, UCU said: “It is an extremely worrying time for staff at the University, especially those in the areas targeted for voluntary severance. If the university is supposed to be pulling together as a community, workers are asking why the burden of job losses are falling disproportionately on a small number of academic schools…” read more

Statement from UCU general secretary following the news that the Cardiff University strike has been called off – Following the news that the Cardiff University strike has been called off after agreement has been reached for no compulsory job losses to take place this year, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘This is a significant victory for our members at Cardiff University. Their collective action and unwavering commitment have led to a crucial assurance that protects jobs and upholds the integrity of academic provision…” read more

University of East Anglia staff begin strike action today over threat of compulsory redundancies and lack of financial transparency (1 May) – Staff at the University of East Anglia (UEA) will begin nine days of strike action today (Thursday 1 May) in a dispute over compulsory redundancies, financial accountability, and transparent governance. Pickets will be in place from 8:00-11:00 read more

UCU declares academic boycott of Brunel University over mass redundancies (15 Apr) – The University and College Union (UCU) has declared an academic boycott of Brunel University London in response to the institution’s continued pursuit of mass redundancies. Brunel University has already overseen significant numbers of voluntary redundancies and is now pressing ahead with plans to impose further compulsory job cuts. UCU believes that the future of entire academic departments are under threat. The union has condemned the university’s refusal to engage meaningfully with staff representatives and warned that these actions could cause irreparable damage to Brunel’s reputation. The union’s higher education committee (HEC) has unanimously backed the boycott, also known as ‘greylisting’, which is the most serious sanction the union can impose. The boycott will begin on Tuesday 15 April 2025, unless the university withdraws the threat of compulsory redundancies, provides transparent financial information, enters collective conciliation talks through Acas, and reinstates those already involuntarily dismissed read more

Brunel University staff begin strike action over job cuts (27 Feb)

Keele University staff vote to strike over brutal cuts programme (11 Apr) – Staff at Keele University have overwhelmingly backed strike action in a fight to protect jobs and student provision, announced the University and College Union (UCU). An overwhelming 75% of UCU members who voted said yes to strike action in a ballot with a turnout of 55%. While 89% also backed taking action short of strike, which could include working to rule. Strike action is now set to take place on Monday 28 April, Tuesday 29 April, Thursday 1 May, Tuesday 6 May and Thursday 8 May read more

Overwhelming vote of no confidence in Truro & Penwith College principal over job cuts (4 Apr) – Staff have called on the Truro and Penwith College management to stop the threat of compulsory job cuts after delivering an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the principal and senior management team, announced the University and College Union (UCU) on Thursday 3 April. In a ballot organised by UCU and its sister campus unions, over nine in ten UCU members (95.6%) said they have no confidence in Truro and Penwith’s principal Martin Tucker and the senior management team to manage the finances of the college. In addition to the vote of no confidence around three quarters (73.6%) of UCU members said they would be prepared to take strike action in order to prevent compulsory redundancies. Under Tucker’s watch, the college has seen an alarming slide of surpluses, resulting in an eyewatering deficit budget of £4.2 million in 2024/2025, just short of 10% of annual turnover, despite higher student numbers read more

Durham University UCU members overwhelmingly back industrial action in the fight against huge job cuts (2 Apr) – UCU members have voted in favour of strike action with a majority of 72%, whilst 81% have backed action short of a strike up to and including an assessment boycott, in a ballot that saw 64% of Durham UCU members vote. The ballot result means that staff could now down tools unless management agrees to rule out compulsory redundancies. Members of UCU will now meet to decide and vote upon next steps including the options of strike action and action short of a strike and is calling on Durham University leaders to listen to its workforce, and work with the union to avoid compulsory redundancies and prevent industrial unrest on campus read more

Northern Ireland college staff vote to take industrial action over pay ‘betrayal’ (1 Apr) – Staff at all six further education colleges across Northern Ireland have voted to take industrial action for fair pay, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced. Belfast Metropolitan College, Northern Regional College, North West Regional College, Southern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College and South West College educate more than 63,000 students between them. The ballot was open for three weeks and was conducted via Royal Mail with 90% voting in favour of strike action, and 98.5% voting in favour of action short of a strike (ASOS), with a 49% turnout read more

Sheffield University staff back strike action in dispute over 1,000 jobs at risk (1 Apr) – Staff at the University of Sheffield have voted to take strike action in a dispute over drastic restructuring plans that put up to 1,000 jobs at risk, the University and College Union (UCU) announced today (Tuesday 1 April). The dispute centres on the university’s intention to slash staffing costs by £23 million over the next two years. In November 2024, the Vice Chancellor announced plans to cut £9 million in staffing costs in 2025 and a further £14 million in 2026. Relatedly, the university recently launched its ‘New Schools’ proposal, which has involved reducing the number of academic departments from 45 to 21 and restructuring Professional Services staff across all schools read more

Canterbury Christ Church University staff and students deliver vote of no confidence in vice chancellor, senior management and governors (1 Apr) – Staff and students at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) have overwhelmingly delivered a vote of no confidence in the university’s vice chancellor, senior management team (SMT), and board of governors. The vote, organised by the CCCU branch of the University and College Union (UCU), was passed by 359 (96%) votes to 16 (4%) following growing anger over the institution’s handling of current financial and strategic decisions. The result comes amid an ongoing dispute between CCCU UCU and university management regarding the failure to rule out compulsory redundancies (CRs) in both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years read more

Strike ballot looms at Kendal College over low pay (26 Mar) – The UCU has today launched a formal trade dispute with Kendal College over its failure to table any pay offer whatsoever this year. This is despite college employer body, the Association of Colleges, making its formal pay recommendation for the 2024/25 academic year six months ago in October 2024. The dispute was declared after an overwhelming 98% of UCU members who voted supported the move, in a ballot that saw over 50% turnout. It paves the way for a strike ballot if management refuses to resolve the dispute read more 

University of Kent staff to strike this week over increasing workload and threats to jobs (24 Mar) – Staff at the University of Kent are striking every day this week over management failure to rule out compulsory job cuts, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. Staff at the University of Kent are striking every day this week over management failure to rule out compulsory job cuts, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today (Monday 24 March) read more  

Sheffield Hallam staff to strike on Monday & Tuesday over withheld pay (21 Mar) – Staff at Sheffield Hallam University will strike on Monday and Tuesday over management’s decision to withhold part of staff pay for seven months. Staff will be on picket lines outside the Owen building both strike days from 8:30am-11.30am. The dispute is over Hallam management’s refusal to implement the 2024/25 pay award of 2.7% from Thursday 1 August 2024, equivalent to around £100 per month for the average lecturer once pension costs are factored in. The university initially claimed it could not afford to implement the award, but belatedly did so this month, after UCU won its strike ballot. However, management still refuses to pay staff their seven months of lost earnings from August (2024), when the uplift should have come in read more  

UEA staff to strike over job cuts (20 Mar) – Staff at the University of East Anglia (UEA) will strike on Wednesday 26 March in a fight against job cuts that saw almost one in six staff put at risk of redundancy, announced the UCU. The strike comes after an overwhelming 82% of UEA UCU members who voted backed strike action in an industrial ballot with a turnout of 67%. Staff will also be taking action short of strike from Wednesday 26 March, which will include working to rule. The dispute is over management’s threat to cut over 190 staff to meet continued budget shortfalls at the institution read more  

University of Bradford staff back strike action over 300 job cull (17 Mar) – University of Bradford staff have overwhelmingly backed strike action in a consultative ballot over plans to axe at least 300 jobs in a programme of cuts that will see chemistry and film & television courses shut down. An overwhelming 69% of staff who voted in the consultative ballot backed strike action, with the turnout surpassing the 50% anti-trade union threshold.   If the result is repeated in a statutory ballot then the university faces the possibility of strikes on campus. The dispute is over the huge cuts programme university management is attempting to force through read more  

Up to 14 days of strike action to hit Newcastle University in March (14 Feb) – Newcastle University staff will strike for 14 days next month unless management protects jobs read more  

10 days of strike action begins tomorrow at University of Sheffield International College (11 Feb) – Staff at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) will down tools tomorrow in the first of up to ten days of strike action in a fight to protect jobs. Staff will be on picket lines every day of strike action from 8am-12pm outside the campus building on Solley Street. The strike comes after USIC put 36 staff in the student support and academic teaching teams at risk of redundancy by April 2025. The employer has claimed the cuts are necessary due to a fall in student numbers this academic year, which it says has hit the company’s finances, but it has also described the financial situation as a “short-term gap” in communications to staff read more  

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

FBU  

Fightback over ‘exhausting’ 12-hour shifts (12 May) – Firefighters gathered at a rally holding a sign reading ‘family matters stop the attacks’. Firefighters in Mid and West Wales are fighting to scrap plans to change shift patterns, with the fire service threatening to enforce “exhausting” new 12-hour shifts. Over 200 firefighters and supporters gathered at a rally outside Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in March, calling for the fire authority to listen to the concerns of the frontline. Over 4,000 people have signed a petition opposing the new shifts. Mid and West Wales FBU is considering all options to fight the changes, including industrial action, with branches meeting to decide next steps for the campaign read more

Firefighters’ union and housing campaigners call for mayor to halt building of “unsafe” Penge tower (9 May) – The Fire Brigades Union and building safety campaign groups have sent a letter to Sadiq Khan and Bromley Council leader Colin Smith, calling for the Greater London Authority and the council to prevent the building of an unsafe tower block in Penge, London. In light of new building safety regulations which state that tower blocks over 18m high must have two staircases, developers reduced the height of the planned tower block to just 30cm below the threshold. Despite the London Fire Brigade stated that reducing the block to 17.7m to avoid the need for a second staircase is ‘not ethically justified’, submitting a nine-point objection on fire safety grounds, Bromley Council has given the development a green light read more

FBU recommends pay deal to members as union leader warns Labour it must reverse austerity (24 Apr) – The executive council of the Fire Brigades Union is recommending that members accept a pay offer of 3.2%, with additional commitments to discuss pay progression and other additional payments. However, Steve Wright, the union’s general secretary, has warned that “inflation-level pay rises will not be enough”, and that the government must invest to protect the public and fund bigger pay increases in the future. Unlike many other sectors, pay in the fire service is negotiated directly between the Fire Brigades Union and national fire service employers at the National Joint Council (NJC) read more

Firefighters back Birmingham bin workers and will not clear waste, says FBU (7 Apr) – The Fire Brigades Union has offered its support to striking bin workers in Birmingham. Councillor Roger Harmer, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Birmingham, last week argued that the army or fire service should be brought in to clear obstructions and waste. The FBU said it would advise members not to carry out any strike-breaking work and has described Cllr Harmer’s remarks as “clueless”. FBU general secretary Steve Wright also declared the union’s “full solidarity” with bin workers “in their fight to defend their pay, jobs and conditions” and called on the council to settle the dispute read more

POA    

National Chair update April 2025 read here 

POA National Chair Mark Fairhurst on BBC Breakfast after attack on prison officer by Southport killer Axel Rudakubana (11 May) watch video

Prisons crisis to dominate union conference (9 May) – Prison Officers from across the UK will attend one of the most important Conferences for the Union in decades. Next week delegates will gather in Eastbourne with the crisis in Prisons set to dominate the agenda. The Conference comes in the aftermath of the terror attack at Frankland Prison that left 3 Prison Officers seriously injured and hospitalised. Understaffing, Prison Officer safety, violence against staff and the health consequences for those working in the UK’s jails are likely to dominate the concerns of delegates read more

Rademaker Report (6 May) – The POA has claimed that the outcome of a Review into the levels of Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination and Victimisation within His Majesty’s Probation and Prison Service, vindicates the views and experiences of its members read more

Employment rights bill and prison officers right to strike (13 Mar) – POA Circular 14/2025 explained to members that John McDonnell MP had submitted amendments to the Bill that would reinstate the basic human right of Prison Officers ability to withdraw their labour. The Executive invited members, their families, friends and others in the Trade Union movement to contact their MPS to support the amendments. As a result of the campaign 1572 people contacted their MP by email, along with many others who contacted their MP by other means. Despite this, MPs were denied a vote on John’s proposal and the Bill has now gone through the Report Stage without John’s amendments included and we will continue to have our basic rights denied. John McDonnell did speak in the House of Commons on his amendments and a link to his speech can be found here. In addition, the following MPs added their name to the amendment: John McDonnell, Mary Kelly Foy, Richard Burgon, Mike Amesbury, Dr Simon Opher, Jon Trickett, Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Kim Johnson, Nadia Whittome, Steve Witherden, Kate Osborne, Imran Hussain, Jeremy Corbyn, Andy McDonald, Ian Byrne, and Zarah Sultana read more  

NAPO

How is the Early Prisoner Release Scheme impacting your workload? (9 May) – Skills for Justice are investigating how service demand and workloads have changed since the commencement of the prisoner early release schemes in autumn 2024. Complete the survey to share your insights on what’s changed since the intervention: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SFJ_EarlyRelease read more

Rademaker Review makes for uncomfortable reading for HMPPS (7 May) – A long awaited report by MoJ Non-executive Director Jennifer Rademaker was released yesterday with Justice Minister Lord James Timpson attending at an event in HMP Highdown. Napo will be issuing a detailed commentary on the outcomes of the report and our views on the culture change that will need to take place across the organisation as a result of its damning conclusions into the full extent of Bullying Harassment and Discrimination across the department read more

Unions lodge Pay Progression Dispute (1 May) – The Probation Unions position is that the trade unions and employer previously reached an agreement that, under the Competency Based Framework, on the 1st of April each year eligible staff would achieve incremental progression – i.e. moving up one pay point within their bay band. Also, that this process is completely separate to the outcome of any pay negotiations between the employer and trade unions, which can result in increases in the value of employee’s pay. Our view is that there exists a wealth of evidence, much of it previously issued by HMPPS to its staff, that they were – at least until recent months – of the same view read more

BFAWU    

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

Nautilus International

Nautilus welcomes direct award of Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract to CalMac (9 May) – Nautilus International has expressed its approval at the Scottish government’s decision to award the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract directly to Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) read more

NUJ  

NUJ PA chapel statement on job cuts (12 May) – The chapel has confirmed it will consult members to discuss next steps, which could include industrial escalation if no movement is made by the company read more

Death of leading legal journalist Aodhan O’Faolain (12 May) – Tributes are paid to the respected, compassionate journalist who lived the NUJ code of conduct through his reporting. Warm tributes have been paid to lrish legal journalist Aodhan O ‘Faolain, who reported on High Court, Appeal Court and Supreme Court cases in Dublin for almost all national news organisations following his untimely death. Aodhan was a lifelong and committed member of the NUJ read more

Palestine: NUJ joins calls for justice over Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing (12 May) – Following the three year anniversary of the killing of the journalist by the Israel Defense Forces, the NUJ joins the International Federation of Journalists in calling on the International Criminal Court to investigate her killing read more

NUJ joins signatories urging Keir Starmer to enforce copyright law (10 May) – “Creative copyright is the lifeblood of the creative industries.” The union joins over 400 creatives and businesses including those from across theatre, arts, media and music urging action. Ahead of a crucial vote in the House of Lords on 12 May, the National Union of Journalists has signed a letter urging Keir Starmer to accept amendments tabled by Baroness Kidron to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, that call for greater transparency requirements for artificial intelligence firms, who must inform copyright owners of works used in their AI models read more

Palestine: NUJ condemns further killings by Israeli bombing (8 May) – At least 159 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of war. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) joins the International Federation of Journalists in condemning the killing of journalist Yahya Subaih on 7 May, following Israeli bombing in western Gaza City read more

NUJ responds to BBC announcement of Local Democracy Reporter contracts (8 May) – The NUJ has encouraged all members affected by the retendering of Local Democracy Reporter Service (LDRS) contracts to seek the union’s support read more

Presumption of anonymity for firearms officers poses grave threat to public interest journalism, say NUJ and JUSTICE (7 May) – The NUJ and law reform charity JUSTICE have written jointly to Yvette Cooper, UK home secretary, expressing deep concern over a proposed change in law granting anonymity to firearms officers subject to criminal proceedings following a shooting read more

Myanmar: Junta sentences journalist to five years in jail (6 May) – Than Htike Myint sentenced on terrorism charges for contacts on his mobile phone. The NUJ is joining the International Federation of Journalists and the Myanmar Journalists Network in calling for the release of reporter Than Htike Myint, who has been sentenced to five years in jail in Myanmar read more

NUJ pays tribute to Lyra McKee on World Press Freedom Day (6 May) – The NUJ unveiled a picture of journalist Lyra McKee in Belfast to mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May. McKee, a NUJ Belfast and District branch member, was killed on 18 April 2019 in the Creggan area of Derry while observing a riot as a freelance journalist. McKee’s image will be displayed alongside framed photos of NUJ colleagues in The Reporter bar on Union Street, which honours the city’s news and publishing heritage read more

Equity  

Derry rally: arts funding protest at government office (12 May) – Equity calls on Northern Ireland government to increase arts funding. This morning, Equity held a rally outside Northern Ireland government offices in Derry, calling on the Minister Gordon Lyons and his Department for Communities to increase funding for the arts across Northern Ireland. Over a hundred members were in attendance at the North West Development Office, holding placards, waving Equity flags, and chanting “Save the arts, resist the cuts!” read more

Save River City campaign gets backing of Equity conference (10 May) – Equity members voted unanimously to call on BBC Scotland to revisit its decision to end River City read more

More US production can help whole film industry, says Equity in response to tariffs (6 May) – Equity calls for UK government to stand up for British film production after President Trump’s comments read more

Welsh National Opera chorus vote to renew industrial action mandate (26 Mar) – Equity members of the WNO chorus have voted in favour of further industrial action. Equity members of the Welsh National Opera chorus have voted in favour of industrial action in a re-ballot on the ongoing dispute over proposed cuts to jobs, terms and conditions. The chorus will continue to take action short of strike from 9 April onwards. The mandate for action lasted for six months and as the dispute remains unresolved, a re-ballot took place, closing this week. WNO Equity members have voted 95% in favour of action short of strike and 91% in favour of strike action on a 100% turnout read more 

Musicians Union

MU Joins Demo to Highlight Creators’ AI Concerns Ahead of Parliament Debate (7 May) – The MU took part in a demo outside parliament today, organised by UK Music, to highlight creator and performer concerns about the potential impact of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) on their rights and future careers read more

USDAW

Usdaw urges the company to improve their pay offer to avoid planned strikes (28 Apr) – Usdaw members working at breakfast cereal giant Weetabix will be taking three days of industrial action in a dispute about pay from tomorrow (29 April). The strikes affect sites at Corby and Burton Latimer read more

Burton Latimer and Corby Weetabix strikers ‘determined’ as they begin two-day industrial action (29 Apr) read more on website of Northamptonshire Telegraph

UVW  

Museum strikes paused again as pay offer promised by 1 April – Following talks between UVW and Wilson James earlier this week, the incredible guards at Natural History Museum, London Science Museum  and Victoria and Albert Museum have agreed to suspend daily strikes due to commence on 7 March, following confirmation that a pay offer will be presented by 1 April. The guards are demanding a significant pay rise after years of poverty pay, full sick pay for day one, more annual leave and other benefits. Since last October, 76 days of strike action have been called including periods of daily walks outs.  

Strike action will resume in April if the museums fail to deliver UVW Facebook page  

Solidarity Financial Appeal: UVW’s office has been targeted in a break-in! (10 Jan) – Overnight, laptops, essential equipment and other valuables worth several thousands of pounds were stolen, disrupting critical support for low-paid, migrant and precarious workers. This won’t stop our fight for justice. The theft comes as UVW leads critical campaigns with hundreds of workers taking strike action across London. Please support UVW during this critical time. Help replace stolen equipment and ensure campaigns for dignity and equality continue. Every donation makes a difference. Donate now: https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/donate. Read more on UVW Facebook page  

Mandate (Ireland)

Mandate Represented at Minimum Wage: 25 Years Event on May Day (6 May) – Mandate representatives attended the recent ICTU event on May Day to mark the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the National Minimum Wage, which was originally set at £4.40. Mandate, along with The National Youth Council of Ireland, reiterated its call for the Minister to abolish the sub minimum rates paid to workers under 20, which currently start at €9.45 compared the full National Minimum Wage rate of €13.50 read more

SIPTU (Ireland)  

Unions call for nationalisation of Tara Mines if owners fail to develop new ore body (7 Mar) – The Tara Mines Group of Unions has called on the Government to take over the running of part or all of Tara Mines in Navan, County Meath, if its current owners fail to invest in the development of a major new ore body that has the potential to maintain the facility’s operation for an additional 40 years read more

BNM Recycling members defer strike after progress on working conditions protection (28 Mar) – SIPTU members employed by Bord na Móna Recycling, the country’s last publicly owned domestic waste collection service, have deferred strike action scheduled to begin on Wednesday (2nd April) following acceptance by management that their conditions of employment must be protected in any proposed sale of the company read more 

Other news    

From SHAC (Social Housing Action Campaign) – Call to Action!  

Housing Crisis Workplace Impact Survey:-  

To aid our engagement with trade unions, and to expose a well-hidden aspect of the housing crisis, we have a survey about the impact of the housing crisis in the workplace.  

The survey is completely anonymous. It asks about the impact of rising rents, as well as stress, illness and injury triggered by bad housing which in turn leads to workplace absences. The survey closes on 31st March 2025.  

Please help by filling in the survey if you are in work, and for all to circulate within your networks.  

www.shaction.org/housing-in-the-workplace-survey/   

Alan Hardman ‘Need not Greed’ – Alan Hardman’s razor-sharp political cartoons collected for the first time. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike, Need Not Greed is a career-spanning collection of visual art by one of Britain’s greatest unsung political cartoonists. Alongside Alan Hardman’s essential work, the book also includes a contribution from former President of the National Union of Mineworkers, Arthur Scargill, as well as a foreword by Jeremy Corbyn order a copy – £45 each  

Can you help? Crowdfunding to tour a production and exhibition of The Grunwick Strike Autumn 2025 – 2026 – We wanted to get in touch to let you know we are crowdfunding for a new production and interactive exhibition.  The theatre show will tell the story of Jayaben Desai – the inspirational leader of the 1976-78 Grunwick Film Processing Factory Strike.  We need your help to get this production and exhibition on the road, any donation you make will mean we are one step closer to getting this very important story out there performing to audiences across the UK. Any money raised will be matched by other funders.  We’ve just got eight weeks to reach our target.  Please find the link for our crowdfunding campaign HERE. Link to our Crowdfunding video Here. www.cramlingtontrainwreckers.co.uk    

Affiliate with STAMMA – at this year’s NSSN Conference, Gary Clark retired CWU Royal Mail rep and a member of the NSSN Steering Committee spoke about STAMMA. STAMMA’s Employment Support Service helps people who stammer as well as those who don’t around issues related to stammering in the workplace. Union branches and regions can affiliate with STAMMA to access a range of services and support at a reduced rate.   

£75 for branches and regions   
£125 for national unions with under 400,000 members   
£200 for national unions with 400,000+ members

STAMMA website    

Stamma Workshop this Wednesday 14^th May

Sign this petition: To the Right Honourable Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and The Right Honourable Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister – Make toxic landfills safe – Support ‘Zane’s Law’!  Find out more about this campaign here  

From Strike Map – Our final instalment of the ‘Industrial Unionism’ series with Manifesto Press is here. Building on this success of our other pamphlets- which has sold over 2,000 copies, our next pamphlet in our series is the infamous ‘A Manual of Industrial Unionism’ by William Z Foster. Click the button here to pre-order your copy for you and your organisation  

Stop the attack on Gaza   

Many NSSN supporters have joined marches and protests against the escalation of violence in the Middle East, particularly the invasion and bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli government.   

See Stop the War website for info on protests. The next national demonstration in central London is on Saturday 17^th May 12noon   

A number of unions have issued statements on the situation in the Middle East, including: the TUC, FBU, RMT, NEU, Unite, Unison, PCS, ASLEF, TSSA, UCU, EIS, CWU, Equity, BMA, NUJ, MU, UVW, GMB, SOR, RCM, RCN, IWGB, Prospect, CSP, NAPO, INTO (Ireland), SIPTU (Ireland) and Mandate (Ireland)    

Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps    

‘SPYCOPS’ EXPOSED AND DEFEATED – Campaigners have successfully exposed the scandal of 50 years of secret undercover political policing. In fact activists are also celebrating 5 decades of struggles for a better world, despite police spying and repression   

Affiliate to the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) here   

Sign petition  

ITV documentary – https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/itv-spycops-documentary-coming-soon-spring-2025/   

www.campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com  
https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/    
https://tmg-uk.org/   
https://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/?locale=en_GB    
https://powerbase.info/index.php/UndercoverResearch_Portal    

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. You can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK. Also, check out Organise Now! – Support for new worker organising.     

International    

Turkey’s People Rise Up for Democracy (25 Mar) – Mass protests are sweeping across Turkey as people take to the streets against the oppressive rule of President Erdoğan, which has made life unbearable for many read more on the website of SPOT – Solidarity with the People of Turkey  

Online Rally: Thursday 3^rd April 

#SolidarityWithTurkey #StandWithTurkey #FreeThemAll  

Please share widely and stand with us! ✊  

NIGERIA SOLIDARITY – END THE ATTACKS ON DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS! END THE ‘TREASON’ TRIAL AND DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST ADARAMOYE MICHAEL LENIN AND OTHER #ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTESTERS  

The ‘treason’ trial of Michael Lenin and 10 other #endbadgovernance protesters was scheduled to commence on 29th of January after its postponement last year.   

Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others would be arraigned in Court on trumped up charges of treason and terrorism financing which could potentially earn them a death penalty if not quashed.  

Further details on www.NigeriaSolidarity.com/Events   

Diary     

2025  

July   

5 NSSN Annual Conference 2025 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall London  

12 Durham Miners Gala details  

18–20 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival details    