As we enter the summer months, strikes are hotting up as workers face down increasing cuts and bosses’ attacks, including the longstanding bin disputes by Unite members in Birmingham and Sheffield, facing brutal strike-breaking measures. In the case of Birmingham, shamefully by a Labour council. Across the public sector, unions are consulting on pay offers from Starmer’s government, with unions like the UCU passing motions at its congress to move to strike ballots, and the BMA Resident Doctors getting their strike vote underway this week. Read about all of these in this our weekly NSSN bulletin.
The NSSN will continue to build support for workers’ action, and this as always, will be one of the major themes of this year’s NSSN Conference on July 5th. Support the strikes!
NSSN Annual Conference 2025 – Make the rich pay not workers!
11am-4.30pm Saturday 5th 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, Fiona Brittle PCS NEC (personal capacity), Unite Birmingham Bin Striker
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
Peoples Assembly demonstration: Austerity is a political choice, welfare not warfare, stop the far-right, stop the cuts – Saturday 7th June in Central London
Support the Unite Birmingham Bin Strike – 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 Bin Strike Escalates (21 May) – Angela Rayner’s commissioners block deal; Council leader missing from all negotiations. Talks aimed at resolving the Birmingham bin strike have been sabotaged by government commissioners. The talks, which started on 1 May under the auspices of the conciliation service ACAS, set out a clear timeline for the discussed offer (known as the ballpark offer) to be tabled by the council. This offer is still not with the union. Indeed, the receipt deadline agreed with ACAS has been broken three times. What has become increasingly clear is that the offer is now being blocked by the government commissions and the leader of the council. None of whom have ever been in the negotiating room. At the ACAS talks the council side was headed up for the first time by Birmingham council managing director Joanne Roney. She assured the meeting that she was the decision maker and at the table to negotiate. Discussions then took place in good faith. This latest debacle comes after it was confirmed that the ‘fair and reasonable offer’ that the prime minister, deputy prime-minister and the leader of the council had been briefing to the press, urging Unite to accept, did not exist. On day one of the ACAS talks, the trade union side asked the council for a copy of the ‘fair and reasonable’ offer for all affected workers being pushed by the government and the council leader. As Unite had been saying all along, it simply did not exist 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
- Send a postcard to tell Birmingham Council’s leader to ‘Stop attacking your workers’ at https://supportbinworkers.unitetheunion.postbug.app/
Twenty-five unions sign open letter calling on government and Birmingham Council to end bin strike read more in Morning Star
Troublemakers At Work online public meeting: Strikes and Solidarity – 7pm Wednesday 28th May. Speakers from Unite Birmingham and Sheffield bin strikes details here
The third Troublemakers At Work conference will take place in central Manchester on Saturday 26 July 2025 read more
GKN Solidarity event in London with Dario Salvetti – 6.30pm The Water Rats in Kings Cross; 328 Grays Inn Road, WC1X 8BZ Facebook event
Fight the disability welfare cuts
NSSN activists include many disabled members and strongly encourages working with DPAC to organise against the welfare cuts. There are protests coming up targeting MPs who are openly for the cuts including DWP minister (31st May) after organising excellent protests in Swansea, Cardiff + AND the sham, not so public consultations. Go to the DPAC website and Facebook page for more information
Disabled union members have also drafted this Quiz as a tool for use in, before or after meetings and workplace actions to highlight the scale and depth of those round of cuts. They have requested we share this online version to test and further feedback how and where you could use it. Using Google forms
https://forms.gle/m8GWU9eyyFaEQRDe6
Feedback in the final 3 questions of the quiz or reply to this bulletin with subject header ‘Dis cutz’.
We can also arrange for the quiz replies and sources to be shared for those leading any workshop or meetings.
Solidarity and thanks
NSSN news
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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).
Contact us: email – [email protected].
Union News
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RMT
CrossCountry workers to begin overtime ban in rest day working dispute (23 May) – RMT members at CrossCountry will begin an overtime ban and refuse to work rest days from Monday 9 June to Friday 25 October – excluding Sundays. The action follows Cross Country’s refusal to negotiate on enhancements for all grades to overtime and rest day working, despite previously agreed commitments read more
RMT strike action to hit Nottingham bus services in pay dispute (23 May) – Bus workers employed by CT4N in Nottingham will take strike action across four days in June and July in a dispute over pay and working conditions. Strike action will take place on the following days:
• Thursday 12 June 2025
• Wednesday 18 June 2025
• Wednesday 25 June 2025
• Wednesday 2 July 2025
Bus workers operate critical services across Nottingham, including the Medilink routes serving NHS hospitals and clinics. Despite the vital role they play in the city’s transport system, CT4N staff remain underpaid and undervalued read more
RMT welcomes SWR public ownership but demands end to outsourcing scandal (22 May) – Rail union RMT, welcomed the imminent return of South Western Railway (SWR) to public ownership, as a step in the right direction but warned that continued outsourcing of essential frontline services risks undermining the benefits of renationalisation. Under new arrangements, SWR will be taken into public ownership on Sunday, as part of the government’s transition to Great British Railways. However, key roles such as Cleaning, Security and Gateline remain contracted out to private profiteers including OCS, STM Group, Carlisle Support Services and Adecco. RMT says these companies raked in 9% gross profits from public rail contracts last year while employing staff on poverty wages, without sick pay or decent pensions read more
RMT secures Eurostar pay deal (20 May) – Rail union RMT, has welcomed a new pay agreement at Eurostar after members voted to accept the final offer from the company. The deal includes a 3.8% pay rise, a matching 3.8% increase in home-to-work travel allowances, and key improvements to family-friendly policies, all negotiated by RMT. These include one extra day of paid carer’s leave and an additional two days of paid paternity leave. Crucially, the agreement also guarantees the union a place in national discussions on industry-wide travel benefits, ensuring Eurostar staff are represented in wider sector talks. Further commitments around talks on productivity, including peak-time operational support, rostering improvements, job booking systems, and service delivery targets were also agreed read more
Balfour Beatty Rail Plant strike ballot to open (19 May) – Rail union RMT, will open a ballot for industrial action on Tuesday, after Balfour Beatty refused to improve its derisory 2.5% pay offer. RMT members working rail infrastructure maintenance, operations and engineering and technical support, have already overwhelmingly rejected this offer, which does nothing to address the rising cost of living. Despite further talks, the company has refused to make a meaningful improvement in their approach. The ballot will close on Tuesday 10th June 2025 and the union is urging members to vote “Yes.” Read more
ASLEF
Rail Freight Future Campaign Launched (16 May) – On Wednesday May 7 we held a round table with MPs in Portcullis House, Westminster, to launch our Rail Freight Future campaign and share with them our factsheet report and asks from the campaign read more
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 welcomes transfer of South Western Railway to public hands (25 May) – TSSA has welcomed the transfer of South Western Railway (SWR) to public ownership on Sunday, describing it as a ‘landmark moment’ for the railways. SWR is the first train operating company to transfer from private (First Group) control to public ownership under the government’s Passenger Railways Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024. Operations will now be run by South Western Railway Ltd a Department for Transport subsidiary of DFT Operator Limited (DfTO) which will come under the umbrella of Great British Railways (GBR) once established read more
Maryam Eslamdoust on the union’s campaign to stop cuts at British Transport Police (19 May) – Ahead of TSSA’s Annual Conference in Belfast this weekend – General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust writes on the union’s campaign to stop cuts at British Transport Police. In recent days TSSA – the union I lead – has leaned very heavily into one of the Labour government’s ‘Missions’ by launching a campaign in which we are calling for the proper funding of British Transport Police (BTP), and warning of the consequences of not doing so read more
Unite
BREAKING NEWS!! Action at Chesterfield Royal Hospital against union busting postponed (28 May) – A demonstration by Unite members at Chesterfield Royal Hospital tomorrow (29 May) against union busting has been postponed. Hundreds of members from Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services (DSFS) were set to protest at the hospital’s main entrance after their employer made the decision to derecognise Unite as of 12 June without any negotiations. It came after Unite led a successful campaign in conjunction with Unison to retain pay parity with the NHS for DSFS workers after the firm broke with the NHS and attempted to push through its own, smaller pay rise. However, due to pressure from Unite, DSFS has asked to hold a meeting with the union. As an act of goodwill Unite has paused tomorrow’s demo read more
Unite secures wage win for Brake Brothers workers in Motherwell (28 May) – Pay deal worth up to £2,434 for over 400 Newhouse based workers. Unite can confirm today (Wednesday 28 May) that around 400 workers employed by Brake Brothers based in Newhouse, Motherwell, have secured a major pay increase. The offer emphatically backed by the workforce, will see pay increases of between 5.1 to 9.8 per cent on the basic hourly wage for warehouse workers, hygiene and distribution drivers. An 88 pence increase will be applied to hourly rates of pay for all workers. The deal further includes a one-off payment ranging from between £458 and £515. The total pay package depending on hours worked alongside the bonus could mean workers taking home up to an extra £2,434. The pay package will apply to wages from July but next year the pay anniversary date will be brought forward to April read more
Unite responds to CMA’s proposals for the veterinary sector (27 May) – The British Veterinary Union in Unite (BVU) has responded to an investigation into the cost of vet bills in the UK. Following concerns that pet owners are being overcharged, the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has put forward potential remedies to solve the crisis – but the BVU says a greater level of action is needed as it has submitted its responses before the CMA’s deadline for responses this evening. Pet ownership in the UK has skyrocketed since the Covid pandemic, with 60 per cent of households now owning at least one pet. Meanwhile vet fees have soared, increasing at around twice the rate of inflation. Large corporate employers (many private equity outfits) now own 60 per cent of the market, pet owners have reported being overcharged and facing a lack of choice, while the CMA is concerned that independent competitors may be pushed out of the market. Vets have said they have felt pressurised to meet financial targets and many have left the industry as a result. A report by the BVU, released today (27 May) found 94 per cent of veterinary workers felt that cost was a barrier to pet owners seeking care for their pets, while 91 per cent of respondents felt that pet care had been compromised by inadequate staffing levels read more
Liverpool Hospital lab workers’ strike called off after parade incident (27 May) – A planned strike by workers at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital today (27 May) has been called off following yesterday’s incident in Liverpool city centre. Over 50 workers were set to walk out today after also taking action on 22 and 23 May after concerns that staff burnout and understaffing was putting patients at risk. The members of Unite work in 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 samples including blood and tissue before a clinician uses the results to decide on the correct course of action for the patient. However, following the incident in Liverpool which saw a car plough into a crowd in the city centre during Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory parade yesterday evening leaving over fifty people injured, the workers made the decision to suspend today’s industrial action. Unite regional officer Derek Jones said: “Following yesterday’s tragic events in Liverpool, members took the immediate decision to suspend action so they could provide full support to the major incident which has been declared by the hospital trust. The dispute is not over and more action is planned – but we are urging Liverpool Clinical Laboratories to come back to the table and commit to addressing the problems with staffing and overwork.” At present, further strike dates have not been announced read more
Glasgow and Edinburgh airports summer strike action looms (27 May) – 600 Menzies Aviation ground service workers to ballot unless new offer tabled. Ground services crew employed by Menzies Aviation at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports have overwhelmingly rejected pay offers as Unite says summer strike action looms over the nation’s largest airports. Around 600 workers including dispatchers, allocators, airside agents and controllers have rejected two separate pay offers by Menzies Aviation at each airport. In the region of 300 Menzies Aviation workers emphatically rejected a basic uplift worth around 4.25 per cent at Glasgow airport. By an emphatic 100 per cent, around 300 workers based at Edinburgh airport also rejected an offer worth around four per cent read more
London Hedin Mercedes mechanics poised to strike (23 May) – Brooklands, Bromley, Croydon and Dartford workers angry at refusal to offer pay rise. London mechanics at Hedin Mercedes-Benz dealerships are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The mechanics, responsible for Mercedes repairs, MOTs and servicing across the capital, are angry that the company is refusing to put forward any pay offer for 2025. Last year, the workers received a two per cent pay rise, while the average rate of RPI inflation for 2024 was 3.6 per cent. Meanwhile, RPI inflation for April 2025 was 4.5 per cent…The workers are being balloted until 9 June. Strike action would impact Hedin customers requiring repairs, servicing and MOTs across its four sites in Brooklands, Bromley, Croydon and Dartford read more
Birmingham polling shows 90% wouldn’t accept bin worker pay cuts and 65% would strike (23 May) – Survey of 900 Birmingham residents finds two thirds disagree with council’s handling of dispute. Birmingham residents would not accept pay cuts equivalent to those Birmingham council wants to impose on striking bin men, a new survey shows. The survey of 900 Birmingham residents by Find Out Now found that 90 per cent would not accept a pay cut of up to a fifth of their wages from their employer. More than two thirds (65 per cent) said they would go on strike if their employer tried to impose similar pay cuts on them read more
Disgraceful Doncaster Cheswold Park Hospital ‘two tier workforce’ must end (23 May) – Disparity resulted in worker suffering miscarriage complications returning to work against medical advice. A worker at Doncaster Cheswold Park Hospital had to return to work against her doctor’s advice after suffering miscarriage complications due to being treated as a second-class employee. South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust refused to give the woman, who it employs, sick pay so she had to return to duties to avoid financial hardship despite not being fit to work. Workers at Cheswold Park, which provides mental health services, were employed by private health provider Riverside until late 2024 when they were transferred to the NHS. Despite now being NHS employees, the trust is refusing to update the medical and non-medical workers’ bare minimum contracts. This has created a two-tier workforce at the hospital as new employees, as well as those moving from other parts of the trust, are on NHS contracts that provide fairer pay and terms and conditions read more
NHS Pay: Government needs long-term solution to tackle health staff crisis in Wales (22 May) – Unite, one of the UK’s principal health sector trade unions, has warned that the government’s pay proposal for NHS staff still fails to address the long-term issues of low pay which is threatening the future of the service in Wales. NHS workers are being offered 3.6 per cent following a recommendation from the pay review body (PRB). While the pay announcement for NHS staff is above the 2.8 per cent increase that was floated by the UK government at the end of last year, it is below the rate of inflation (RPI) which is currently running at 4.5 per cent. It is also below what NHS staff in Scotland have accepted. The proposed increase also fails to reverse a lost decade of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases, which have significantly decreased pay in real terms and resulted in NHS staff struggling with the cost-of-living as well as the NHS in Wales having difficulties with recruitment and retaining staff read more
Pay for Northern Ireland health workers must keep pace with rest of NHS (22 May) – Proposed increase doesn’t resolve long-term problems faced by HSC workers with staff shortages and cuts creating a toxic environment. Unite has warned that the government’s pay proposal for NHS staff still fails to address the long-term issues of low pay and staff cuts which is threatening the future of the service. The Pay Review Body (PRB) which proposes pay increases for NHS workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has recommended a 3.6 per cent rise for 2025-26 and this has now been offered by the government to NHS workers in England. The increase is below both the rate of inflation (RPI) which is currently running at 4.5 per cent as well as the increase accepted by NHS staff in Scotland. The increase will fail to reverse the lost decade of pay freezes and below inflation increases which have resulted in NHS staff struggling with the cost-of-living and a staffing crisis read more
NHS Pay: Government needs long-term solution to tackle health staff crisis (22 May) – Unite, one of the UK’s principal health sector trade unions, has warned that the government’s pay proposal for NHS staff still fails to address the long-term issues of low pay and staff cuts which is threatening the future of the service. NHS workers are being offered 3.6 per cent following a recommendation from the pay review body (PRB). While the pay announcement for NHS staff is above the 2.8 per cent increase that was floated by the government at the end of last year, it is below the rate of inflation (RPI) which is currently running at 4.5 per cent. It is also below what NHS staff in Scotland have accepted. The proposed increase also fails to reverse a lost decade of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases, which have significantly decreased pay in real terms and resulted in NHS staff struggling with the cost-of-living read more
Unite launches campaign against Oxfam’s plans to axe and outsource staff jobs (22 May) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has today (22 May) launched a petition against anti-poverty charity Oxfam’s plan to make staff redundant and replace them with casual and agency labour. The outsourcing targets workers in the charity’s publishing team – which manages the production of globally respected research and reports – and its training team, who develop staff skills. Workers fear more roles could be targeted if Oxfam decides that outsourcing is acceptable. The outsourcing redundancies are part of a wider redundancy programme, which will see Oxfam cut 265 jobs. Oxfam’s plan means replacing secure jobs with casual work. That means staff are being made redundant – but their work will continue to be undertaken. The charity is proposing the work will now be done by outside agencies or casual staff, without a business case being made for this to workers read more
Northern Ireland: Stormont must ensure NI pensioners receive winter fuel payments if Westminster fails to deliver (22 May) – Unite to continue campaign for full restoration of universal winter fuel payments. Following yesterday’s statement by prime minister Keir Starmer that the government plans to increase the number of pensioners eligible for the winter fuel payment, Unite has said Stormont must make sure no Northern Ireland pensioner loses out this winter. The prime minister’s statement did not promise to fully restore the universal payment or commit to a timeframe. The winter fuel payment was previously worth £200 a year to each pensioner. Following an active campaign by the Pensioner Convention and Unite, community minister Gordon Lyons moved to introduce a partial mitigation payment of £100 to affected households read more
Unite secures wage wins for Glasgow Airport workers (22 May) – Basic pay uplifted by five per cent for over 140 workers. Unite has secured a pay deal for over 140 cleaners and workers who assist passengers with restricted mobility based at Glasgow Airport, Scotland’s leading aviation trade union has confirmed. Around 60 cleaners employed by ABM will receive a basic pay increase of five per cent which will see the hourly rate rise to £12.70 effective from April. Night shift pay will also rise by the same percentage to £13.50 an hour with double time being secured on Christmas or New Year’s Day. In total Unite has delivered an increase in basic pay by 15.5 per cent in two years for the ABM cleaners read more
Unite hits back at strike busting tactics by Redline at Gatwick (21 May) – Unite, the leading union representing airline workers, has criticised Redline Oil Services Ltd over desperate and expensive strike busting tactics. Plane refuellers from Redline Oil, who mainly work for budget airline easyJet at Gatwick Airport, have walked out for four days in a dispute about pay and are set to take industrial action from this Friday (23 May) to next Tuesday (27 May). However, Redline Oil has employed strike busting tactics, including drafting managers from other sites to cover striking workers and offering them free accommodation which costs £200 a night while they work at Gatwick. Unite has estimated that Redline have paid £5,000 a day to cover the strike and have brought in at least two replacement workers for every member on strike, meaning the first set of strikes could have cost them £20,000…The Redline workers voted to strike after unanimously rejecting a pay offer of 4.25 per cent, but Redline has refused to come back to the negotiating table read more
Unite welcomes apparent change of direction on winter fuel plans – but pensioners’ minds need to be put at rest before autumn (21 May) – Unite has long campaigned against the winter fuel cuts announced last year and is cautiously optimistic that the government has at last seen sense and begun to reverse them. However, details are light, heavily caveated and will not be finalised until the autumn. Unite will continue to press the government to fully reverse all cuts to winter fuel allowances read more
John Crane strikes in Slough over after Unite members accept new pay deal (21 May) – Strikes at engineering firm John Crane have been called off after Unite members accepted an improved pay offer. Forty workers at the Slough-based company were due to walk out again from 27 May to 31 May and on 5 and 11 June in a dispute about pay. However, they have now voted to accept an improved offer of 3.75 per cent, backdated to October 2024. This is part of a two-year deal with the workers, who make seals, bearings and pumps for the oil and gas industry, also set to receive a three per cent uplift at the start of this coming October…The workers had previously undertaken six days of strike action in April and May, causing supply chain disruption read more
Unite leader highlights energy company profiteering (21 May) – SSE annual results show company making billions for overseas shareholders as homeowners struggle. The boss of the UK’s leading trade union today criticised the obscene profits made by SSE energy company as consumers continue to face high bills. SSE’s annual results show the company made nearly £2.5 billion in profits in the last financial year despite commodity prices falling yet bills remaining high for households read more
Six weeks of strikes at Stagecoach West of Scotland bus services as pay talks breakdown (21 May) – Company fails to improve pay offer to hundred of drivers.
Unite the union can confirm today (21 May) that around 430 Stagecoach drivers will take strike action over six weeks after a breakdown in pay talks. Bus services are set to stop across the west of Scotland after Stagecoach West Scotland failed to use last ditch pay talks to improve on a four per cent “strings attached” offer which was tabled last November and emphatically rejected by the membership. Strike action will take place on 26 May, 2 and 6 June. It will then be followed by six weeks of continuous action starting on 9 June lasting until 21 July. The strike action will impact Stagecoach West Scotland operating out of several depots in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan, and Kilmarnock servicing passengers across bus routes in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow. The bus depots in Dumfries and Galloway are not involved in this phase of strike action. Unite members have voted by 98 per cent to take industrial following the emphatic rejection of the four per cent pay offer. The union has continued to highlight that the current pay offer is ‘unacceptable’ as it would leave the drivers one of the poorest paid across Stagecoach’s UK operations read more
Hundreds of striking Heathrow workers march to airport HQ demanding fair pay (20 May) – 800 Wilson James workers assisting passengers with restricted mobility call on Heathrow bosses to intervene as strikes intensify. Hundreds of striking workers will march to Heathrow’s head offices in Hillingdon to demand the airport’s management intervene in their pay dispute with contractor Wilson James read more
North Air tanker driving wage wins across Scottish airports (20 May) – Pay deals build on union’s Runway to Success campaign. Unite has secured wage wins for North Air tanker drivers based across Scottish airports, the nation’s leading aviation union confirmed today (20 May). Around 100 tanker drivers and airfield operators who provide refuelling services for airlines who fly into and out of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Kirkwall (Orkney), Sumburgh (Shetland) and Stornoway are all benefiting from a four per cent wage win backdated to April read more
Unite launches campaign for fair council funding (19 May) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, which represents thousands of local government workers, has launched a campaign calling for urgent reform of how councils are funded. The Fair Funding campaign comes amid a backdrop of severe cuts to public services and jobs as well as a financial crisis in the sector read more
Unite extends recognition agreement for Key social care workers across Scotland (19 May) – Workers have bigger platform to secure better jobs, pay and conditions. Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, has extended a union recognition agreement covering 2,500 workers based at the social care and housing support provider Key. Key is one of Scotland’s largest not for profit social care providers which primarily delivers housing, and personalised support services to around 2,000 people in their own homes and communities. The sole recognition agreement with Unite builds on an existing relationship with Key but it has been extended to cover almost 2,500 workers. The majority of the workers covered by the agreement provide vital frontline services for people with complex support needs across Scotland read more
Anti-poverty charity workers to strike due to inflated directors’ pay (19 May) – Workers at the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K) will go on strike later this month in a row over directors’ pay. Staff at the London-based anti-poverty charity accepted a three per cent pay rise in January. However, the workers, who are members of Unite, have now voted to take industrial action after the charity signalled its intention to press ahead with plans to increase the salary for directors – a senior management grade – by 25 per cent. Z2K has a radical political background, having been founded by the late Reverend Paul Nicholson during the 1990s in opposition to the Poll Tax. Now, the organisation works to tackle the ‘twin pillars’ that create and sustain poverty – inadequate incomes and high costs – through providing advice and campaigning. Workers at the charity will be undergoing 2 weeks of continuous strike action from 27 May until 6 June to demand fairer pay increases read more
Red Handling strike at Gatwick suspended as Unite members are balloted (15 May) – Industrial action by Red Handling workers at Gatwick Airport over late and missing pension payments have been suspended for two weeks to allow members to vote on new working terms. Over one hundred workers at Red Handling, who are members of Unite and work in areas including baggage handling, check-in and flight dispatching were set to walk out this Sunday (18 May) as well as 25 May, but this has been postponed after Unite received proof of payment of pension contributions from Red Handling to provider Royal London. Red Handling has also agreed to cover the loss of interest on any contributions that were not paid and there will be an independent audit to ensure the situation with missing pensions does not happen again. Some Red Handling workers had also been paid wages late leaving them in financial difficulty – but the new offer would also mean Red Handling would have to give staff a bonus payment if payday was late. Meanwhile, workers had also complained of overwork and not having rest breaks and under the new terms there will be guarantees around this, such as giving staff overtime pay read more
Scottish Water pay dispute boils over as strike action resumes (15 May) – Union criticises Alex Plant for remaining in ‘ivory tower’ after refusing to engage in direct talks. Further strike action is set to shake Scottish Water as the dispute over pay continues to boil over due to no new formal pay offer. Strike action is set to take place on 2 June until the end of 8 June involving Unite’s 500-strong membership at offices and wastewater treatment works across the whole of Scotland. Unite has taken direct aim at the Chief Executive, Alex Plant, for remaining in an ‘ivory tower’ after refusing in correspondence to the trade union to take direct part in pay negotiations despite stating his ‘door is open’. The trade unions including Unite agreed to postpone scheduled action on Friday 2 May and Tuesday 6 May after last-minute talks led to a potential breakthrough in the dispute with ‘clear indications’ that a new offer would be tabled. To date, no new formal has been tabled with Unite in order for it be considered, and then potentially put out to the wider Scottish Water membership for consultation. The trade union claims that Scottish Water executives have ‘deliberately misled’ government ministers, MSPs and the public by stating they have not withdrawn pay offers made to the workforce only to subsequently table an ‘inferior’ offer. The current offer on the table amounts to 3.4 per cent or £1,050 for those on the lowest grades but over a nine-month period. Scottish Water’s counterparts in Northern Ireland in contrast received a £1,500 non-consolidated payment and a five per cent wage rise in December read more
Unite strike action against Veolia to escalate as workers in Cheshire balloted (14 May) – Workers at toxic waste incineration plant in Ellesmere Port furious at low pay. Unite’s long running campaign against anti-union employer Veolia is set to escalate further as workers in Cheshire are being balloted for potential strike action. The union already has a recognition dispute with the company in Sheffield that has seen workers on continuous strike since last autumn. Now workers who do a dangerous and difficult job staffing a toxic waste incineration facility in Cheshire are set to walk out over pay. Nearly 50 workers are furious at the pay offer on the table and are seeking an urgent improvement. They are being balloted for strike action that would cripple the plant and stop incineration taking place, leading to a stockpiling of dangerous and hazardous waste read more
Majority of workers at Sheffield refuse site want Unite recognition agreement (28 Mar) read more
Unite to fight FedEx closures in Staffordshire and Kent (14 May) – Union to campaign against potential hundreds of job losses across country as warehouses set to close. Unite the union is holding talks with FedEx in a last-gasp bid to try to keep a number of warehouses open across the UK. FedEx has announced they are looking to permanently close sites including in Parkhouse, Staffordshire and Dartford, Kent, as part of an efficiency drive. Hundreds of jobs at all sites could be at risk with some long-serving employees having worked at the site since they left school – and now face the daunting prospect of finding new employment read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 – Martin Walsh and Dave Ward Update On Royal Mail Pay (22 May) – On this special pre-recorded episode of CWU Live we’re coming to you from a national briefing in Manchester where we speak to Martin Walsh and Dave Ward about the latest on Royal Mail pay talks 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]
Low pay means “price cap day” is feared by Ofgem employees (23 May) – “Price cap day” is the day when the energy regulator, Ofgem, announces the energy price cap for the following three months as it has done today. This sets the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge as standing charges and for each unit of energy read more
Civil service pay remit published (22 May) – The Cabinet Office has today published its Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance for 2025 to 2026. The civil service pay remit guidance covers the civil service, including ministerial departments, non-ministerial departments, agencies as well as non-departmental public bodies and arm’s length bodies. The figure issued today for 2025-2026 is 3.25% and comes only the day after the latest rate of inflation was announced as 3.5%. This means that departments are able to make average pay awards of up to 3.25% and they have also been given permission to use an extra 0.5% to be targeted at specific issues including low pay read more
Sacked HMRC reps issue is ‘an attack on all of us’ (22 May) – Solidarity with our three sacked reps at HMRC Benton Park View (BPV) was unanimously reaffirmed by our conference delegates in Brighton. Conference agreed to continue to support the long-running campaign to win reinstatement for the victimised reps and end the employer’s attacks on the PCS branch. Gordon Askew, Rachel Farmer and Joel Hamilton were dismissed at the end of last year because of their trade union activity. Members have been taking strike action in defence of the reps since 23 December – action which is currently continuing until 6 June 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
MyCSP members to be balloted for strike action (22 May) – The company is refusing to acknowledge PCS as the recognised trade union for staff. PCS has notified MyCSP that we will be balloting our members for industrial action due to their continued failure to acknowledge PCS as the recognised trade union. MyCSP administers the civil service pensions arrangements on behalf of the Cabinet Office, and provides pensions to over 1.5 million people. MyCSP refuses to acknowledge PCS, despite PCS having a number of legacy staff who TUPEd over from the civil service. It has now become essential for PCS to challenge the employer as MyCSP staff are due to TUPE again to Capita in December 2025. PCS and MyCSP have disputed recognition for a long time but recently it has been made clear that PCS will not formally be involved in TUPE talks, despite previous assurances read more
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
Civil Service pay remit begins to address recruitment and retention issues in key areas (22 May) – Steve Thomas, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, responding to the publication of the Pay Remit Guidance for the Civil Service, said: “Civil servants have seen huge erosion of their pay in the last 15 years. This remit may ensure that their incomes are not further eroded by inflation, but it will not resolve many of the wider recruitment and retention challenges currently faced by government for digital, scientific and specialist skills…” read more
Prospect responds to BT’s full year review as it enters formal trade dispute over pay offer (22 May) – Rachel Curley, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect, responding to BT’s full year results, said: “BT’s decision to increase its dividend at the same time as giving a derisory or non-existent pay rise to managers shows the disregard they have for Prospect members. People will be incensed that when 28% of managers are being offered a 0% pay rise, and the offer is worth 1.24% on average, the company has taken this decision to increase dividends. The overwhelming rejection this week of the insulting pay offer shows the strength of feeling among our members. We have subsequently notified the employer that we are now in a formal trade dispute with them in the hope that BT will now offer a fair deal. If an acceptable offer does not materialise in the coming weeks, we will be looking at all options available to us.” Read more
BT workers overwhelmingly reject “derisory” pay offer (20 May) – Prospect members working for BT have overwhelmingly rejected a “derisory” pay offer from the employer. The pay offer was an average of 1.24%, less than half the rate of inflation, with 28% getting no pay rise at all read more
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
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.
FDA
Civil service pay award demonstrates government has “failed to grasp the nettle of fundamental reform” (23 May) – The government has published its Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance alongside a Written Ministerial Statement confirming the government’s decision to accept the recommendations of the SSRB read more
GMB
Up to a thousand school staff at risk of redundancy in Norfolk (27 May) – Schools must stop ‘picking the pockets’ of the lowest paid staff, says GMB Union. GMB, a union representing more than 100,000 school support staff, estimates that as many as 1,000 jobs are currently at risk in Norfolk’s schools. This would affect school support staff including teaching assistants, mealtime supervisors, and caretakers. GMB is calling on schools not to cut support staff roles, warning that doing so will disproportionately affect the lowest paid staff. Job losses among teaching assistants would also have a significant impact on children with special educational needs (SEN) at a time when the number of children requiring additional support is rising. It has pointed to the staff and funding cuts already undertaken by schools and Norfolk County Council as evidence of how desperate the situation has become. The union has learned of a primary school in the county proposing to close early to save on staffing costs and charging parents to keep their children on site read more
DS Smith closures ‘brutal’ (23 May) – GMB Union has descried closures by packaging giant DS Smith as ‘brutal’ read more
GMB ballots NHS staff on pay award (22 May) – GMB Union has begun balloting tens of thousands of NHS and ambulance workers in England on this year’s pay award. The Department for Health and Social Care announced today [Thursday] NHS staff will receive a 3.6 per cent pay rise for 25/26. The ballot opens today and closes on 17 July read more
School staff demand parity with teachers’ pay (22 May) – School support staff have demanded parity with teachers following the pay award today [Thursday]. Teachers have been handed a 4 per cent award, while school staff including teaching assistants, caterers, admin staff and caretakers have been offered just 3.2 percent. Research by GMB, which represents more than 100,000 school support staff across the country, shows teaching assistants earn an average annual salary of just £17,000 read more
Asda St Leonards undertakes action towards culture change after GMB survey
Asda (22 May) – This once again shows what a strong union can do, says GMB
GMB union can announce some major changes in Asda’s St Leonards superstore following a culture survey among its almost 100 members. Members reported many long-standing issues for the night staff and positive action has been taken as a direct result of the survey. After several weeks of investigation and negotiations, GMB is satisfied that change is underway and the damage is being repaired read more
Sunderland refuse fury at bin bag snooping (21 May) – Workers at Pallion Recycling Centre are balloting for industrial action that will shut the site this summer. Private company SUEZ, which runs the plant, wants to introduce ‘bag splitting’ – asking workers to open residents’ black bags and search them for recyclable materials. GMB members have raised multiple safety concerns, including the lack of proper protection from the risk of needles and dangerous chemicals. So far SUEZ has not listened. The ballot closes on Friday, 30 May, – with any industrial action expected in June. A petition calling for a reversal of the decision is now live 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
Thoughts are with Liverpool’s injured and the emergency staff who responded so effectively (27 May) – People should be proud of the quick response of public services read more
NHS staff likely to be disappointed with this year’s pay rise (22 May) – Award of 3.6% shows pay review body process should be ditched. Commenting on the announcement today (Thursday) that NHS staff in England are to receive a 3.6% pay rise this year, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “The pay rise is more than ministers said they could afford, but it barely matches inflation. The money will also be landing in pay packets four months late. Health workers had high hopes this government would have learned from the mistakes of its predecessors. But a reliance on the slow, outdated and unnecessary pay review body process has once again failed to deliver…” read more
Probation is key to fixing prison crisis but needs significant funding boost (22 May) – Sentencing review recognises importance of probation service. Commenting on the recommendations in David Gauke’s independent sentencing review published today (Thursday), UNISON national officer for probation Ben Priestley said: “Probation can be an effective alternative to a failing prison system, as this review acknowledges. But the system can only work properly if it’s given the investment it desperately needs…” read more
Give care workers a £2,000 pay rise to help tackle workforce crisis (19 May) – Raising wages in care is the first step to turning around this beleaguered sector. The government must set aside £1.5bn* so more than half a million care staff in England receive a £2,000 pay rise and more workers can be recruited to this under-pressure sector, says a report published by the Fabian Society today (Monday) read more
UNISON members at Greater Manchester Mental Health Early Intervention Service have received an offer from GM Mental Health FT & the ICB to settle the Early Intervention dispute that’s been ongoing nearly 9 months. Members have agreed to stand down action next week whilst members are balloted on the offer. For more info, follow @Unisongmmh @NorthWestUNISON on X/Twitter
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.
- Tuesday 27th May. Joint picket at Gloucester Royal Hospital
- Wednesday 28th. Joint picket at Cheltenham General Hospital outside Pathology College Road
- Thursday 29th Joint picket at Gloucester Royal Hospital
- Friday 30th : Short picket at Cheltenham General followed by coffee
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
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
Pay Award for HSC staff in Northern Ireland signed off by Minister (23 May) – Uncertainty remains over when this will be implemented read more
Your England NHS pay award is here (22 May) – Is this increase enough? Get ready to have your say and check your details are up to date read more
RCN Wales responds to Welsh Government’s NHS pay award for 2025/26 (22 May) – Is this increase enough? Get ready to have your say and check your details are up to date 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
Government announces pay award for RCM members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (23 May) – The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has issued a cautious welcome to the news that the governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have accepted the pay recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) in full. The RCM says while it believes its hard-working members deserve more, the 3.6% is a ‘small improvement’ on the 2.8% the Westminster Government initially said it could afford. The PRB recommended a 3.6% consolidated uplift effective from 1 April 2025 for all Agenda for Change (AfC) staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. However, the RCM says that there is still much work to be done to improve the working lives of midwives and maternity support workers read more
RCM members in Scotland vote to accept pay offer (13 May) – Midwives and maternity care assistants (MCAs) working in the NHS in Scotland have voted to accept a two year pay offer of just over 8%. The RCM’s three-week consultation with its members resulted in 80.1% of respondents voting to accept the offer, with the RCM saying it was ‘a step towards addressing long term pay cuts’. Nearly 20% rejected the Scottish Government offer saying that ‘the offer was not acceptable’. The offer equates to an uplift of 4.25% for all NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) staff in 2025-26 and 3.75% for 2026/27. This amounts to a cumulative uplift of just over 8.1%. The RCM says the offer meets the above-inflation ask of the RCM’s pay claim and is protected from any rises in inflation. This means 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
Pay awards for NHS staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland announced (22 May) – The CSP will consult members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on NHS pay awards revealed this week read more
SOR
SoR stands with members amid ICB cuts and calls for immediate action (27 May) – Integrated Care Board cuts will have a serious impact on NHS services across England and the radiography professionals working in them read more
SoR welcomes NHS pay award and confirms member consultation (23 May) – Radiographers in England have been offered a 3.6 per cent pay increase, on the back of last week’s confirmation of Scottish NHS pay increase read more
Scotland pay offer accepted by members across unions (19 May) – Members of NHS unions across Scotland have overwhelmingly accepted the Scottish Government’s pay offer, due in coming months read more
BMA
Sub-inflationary pay lift angers doctors leaders (22 May) – DDRB recommendation leaves medical profession feeling unvalued and unwanted read more
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
Teacher pay announcement (22 May) – Commenting on the teacher pay announcement for September, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “It is testament to the strength of feeling in the profession that government have moved from their initial recommendation of a 2.8% pay rise to the 4% announced today. Whilst we acknowledge and welcome additional funding to that initially offered by government, it is still the case that the pay award is not fully funded. In many schools this will mean cuts in service provision to children and young people, job losses, and additional workloads for an already overstretched profession. The NEU will never accept cuts to education. Children deserve a fully-resourced education and government should see education as an investment in the country’s future not a cost…” read more
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 strike:-
- St Clare’s Oxford – Monday 26thy May [email protected]
NASUWT
Glodwick teachers strike over years of mistreatment (22 May) – On Thursday 22nd May, members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union will begin strike action at Glodwick Infant and Nursery School in Oldham due to continuous issues with health and safety, and mistreatment of staff. Further strike days are planned on 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11 and 12 June. For years, teachers at Glodwick have endured a lack of action from school leadership over health and safety risks onsite. It is becoming increasingly difficult for teachers to report and mitigate these risks as leadership is not responding in an appropriate manner. Two months ago, the teachers took the difficult decision to escalate their concerns to Oldham Local Authority. Last week, it seemed that progress had finally been made, with Oldham promising to put measures in place to mitigate risks and protect teachers. But Oldham have reneged on the deal, leaving teachers vulnerable to persistent intimidation and bullying from senior leaders. They have no choice but to take industrial action read more
NASUWT responds to STRB report (22 May) – Responding to the publication of the STRB report, Matt Wrack, Acting General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union said: “Teachers have been waiting for this announcement and it is welcome that the Government has published the report and its response early enough for the award to be applied from September. We also welcome that the STRB recommendation has recognised the need to increase pay by more than the 2.8% the Government proposed in its evidence and that this has been accepted. Teachers in the NASUWT will be wanting to assess the details and the Union will be carefully considering the implications of today’s announcement…” read more
LIPA teachers strike over critical management failure (19 May) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at LIPA School in Liverpool will begin strike action this week after leadership failed to deal with a number of concerns related to health and safety, adverse management practices, and dangerous pupil behaviour. While NASUWT representatives have met with leaders at the school, no progress has been made. LIPA Multi Academy Trust does not appear to recognise trade unions read more
Strong support for Northern Ireland FE pay and workload offer (19 May) – NASUWT -The Teachers’ Union has welcomed the news that its members have voted to accept a 5.5% pay increase for 2024-25 and 3% for 2025-26, alongside commitments to address parity with schoolteachers and significant measures to address workload pressures. 79.4% of NASUWT members voted in favour of the offer 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
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
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
Lecturers at the Robert Gordon University to take Further Strike Action and Lecturers at the University of the West of Scotland deliver a strong message against compulsory redundancy via a consultative ballot (15 May) – The EIS has issued notice today to Robert Gordon University and its members there for two days of strike action in order to try to stop the University from making staff redundant. Strike action will take place on 29th and 30 May, 2025. Separately, lecturers at the University of the West of Scotland have voted in favour of pursuing industrial action in their dispute over compulsory redundancy at the University. The indicative ballot, organised by the EIS, closed last week and resulted in a strong majority vote in favour of industrial action, with 85% of those voting backing industrial action read more
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
UCU
UCU Stop the Cuts campaign
Sign petition against the education cuts
University of Dundee compulsory redundancy plans result in new wave of strikes (27 May) – University and College Union (UCU) members at the University of Dundee today, Monday 26th May. begin a further five days of strike action over threatened job losses and staff facing compulsory redundancy. The strike follows 15 days of strikes in February and March. Since then, university senior management, in the face of continued industrial action and criticism from the Scottish Government and local politicians, backtracked on their original plans to cut 700 jobs. Management initially accepted Scottish Government advice, announcing a reduced figure of 300 job losses through a voluntary redundancy process. But the employer is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies and redundancy consultations are well under way in both the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) and the Educational Assistive Technology Team (EduAT) at the university read more
UCU reaffirms commitment to trans rights (26 May) – The University and College Union (UCU) today (Monday 26 May) overwhelmingly voted to stand with the trans community. Delegates attending the union’s congress backed four motions (44,45,46,47) that committed the union to fight back against unprecedented attacks on trans people’s human rights read more
University union lays ground for its first ever strike ballot against Labour (26 May) – Delegates at the University and College Union’s (UCU) annual Congress have overwhelmingly voted to prepare for an industrial dispute with the Secretary of State for Education over university funding, the first step towards a potential strike ballot, announced the union today (Monday 26 May) read more
UCU Congress votes for England-wide college strike ballot over low pay (25 May) – Members of the University and College Union (UCU) attending the union’s Congress (UCU) today (Sunday 25 May) voted to ballot staff at further education colleges across England for strike action. UCU has already launched a consultative ballot, which closes on Friday 20 June, to lay the ground for a strike ballot to open in Autumn. The union is demanding a new deal for further education workers, including a 10% pay rise, parity with schoolteachers, national bargaining and nationally agreed workloads read more
UCU responds to schoolteachers’ pay body recommendation (22 May) – UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said: ‘For far too long colleges have been education’s Cinderella service. As a bare minimum, college staff must be given the same uplift as school teachers as a step towards closing the pay gap between schools and colleges. ‘The additional 16-19 funding is welcome, but will fall short of what the sector needs given an additional 60,000 16-19 yr old students are projected to enter the sector over the next two years…’ read more
Edinburgh University staff overwhelmingly back industrial action in row over £140million cuts and job losses (21 May) – Staff at the University of Edinburgh have today backed industrial action in a dispute over senior management’s plans to cut £140million from the university’s annual budget and refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies. In the ballot of University and College Union (UCU) Scotland members at the university, 84% of those who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 60%. 93% of members voting said that they would also be willing to take part in action short of strikes which could include working to contract, and not covering for absent colleagues, or undertaking voluntary activities. A marking and assessment boycott could also be one of the possible forms of action short of strike read more
Union vows to fight cuts at Liverpool Hope (21 May) – Liverpool Hope University intends to axe 39 staff before the end of the year, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. The threatened cuts will fall on the faculties of education and social sciences, creative arts and humanities, and human and digital sciences with courses including sociology, education studies and health science being hit. Management claims it needs to make the cuts due to a its own predicted deficit, with staff set to go as soon as November (2025). Despite the cuts to front line staff, the university has healthy cash reserves and its vice-chancellor takes home a total package worth over £300k. If the university refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies by Friday 23 May, UCU will enter into a formal industrial dispute, which is the first step towards a possible strike ballot and disruption on campus read more
OfS cuts ‘catastrophic’ says UCU (20 May) – Latest government cuts to higher education are “catastrophic” said UCU. The union was responding to the slashing of the Office for Students’ strategic priorities grant and capital funding. Latest government cuts to higher education are ‘catastrophic’ said UCU. The union was responding to the slashing of the Office for Students’ strategic priorities grant and capital funding read more
Strike ballot opens at Kingston University over cuts & course closures (19 May) – Over 300 staff at Kingston University will be asked to vote yes to strike action in a ballot that will open tomorrow. The dispute is over a £20m cuts programme that university management is forcing through, including the closure of the humanities department alongside courses in the department of criminology, sociology and politics. The university has already tried to get staff out the door through a voluntary severance scheme. UCU fears compulsory redundancy is also on the cards and that a further nine departments are at risk. Management pulled out of talks aimed at resolving the dispute and refuses to rule out compulsory redundancies despite its £7m surplus (23/24) and the over £400m it holds in reserves read more
‘Rogue employer’ University of Greenwich could axe over 300 staff (15 May) – The University of Greenwich intends to axe up to 319 staff, around a quarter of its total workforce (319/1245), in a bid to slash payroll, announced the University and College Union (UCU) today. The university wants to get rid of staff by August, and the cull will fall on the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (FLAS), the Faculty of Engineering and Science (FES), and the Greenwich business school (GBS). Every single hourly paid lecturer in FLAS (151 in total) and GBS (45 in total) is set to be axed. In FLAS, they will be replaced by a pool of 50 part time workers, equivalent to just 17 full time posts 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
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
Fire Brigades Union comments on HMICFRS report into Devon and Somerset (23 May) – His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its report into Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (D&SFRS). The report finds raises concerns that senior management of the service are failing to promote positive values and culture, and fairness and diversity. 52% of respondents to a survey by the inspectorate felt senior leaders consistently modelled and maintained the service values, compared to 91% of colleagues. 16% of respondents felt bullied or harassed at work in the last 12 months, and the report notes that “the primary reason for not reporting the bullying or harassment was concerns it would make the situation worse.” The inspectorate was also “disappointed to find that the [service’s] equality diversity and inclusion team didn’t have sufficient staff resources read more
Fire Brigades Union calls for funding for fire services in Wales following HMICFRS report (22 May) – His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has today published its first report into South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The report raises “concerns about the service’s performance in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks”. This follows a report into North Wales Fire and Rescue Service by Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor and Inspector for Wales, Dan Stephens QFSM published on May 20, which identified serious concerns that the service is failing to meet its legal duties to risk assess for incidents including house fires and standards of firefighter training read more
Firefighters union warns UK is “vulnerable to disasters” in call for Labour to fund the fire service (22 May) – The Fire Brigades Union has today called for the Labour government to provide urgent funding for the fire and rescue service, saying austerity has left UK “vulnerable to disasters”. Fire and rescue services have been decimated by cuts in the past fourteen years, with 1 in 5 firefighter posts axed – amounting to 12,000 fewer firefighters compared to 2010. The union’s annual conference has today passed a motion calling for funding, noting that Labour was elected on a manifesto which pledged to “improve resilience and preparation” for the fire and rescue service. However, central funding for English fire services announced for 2025-26 was only 1.4%, lower than the current rate of inflation and amounting to another funding cut. Ahead of Westminster’s spending review this summer, the FBU is calling on the government to commit serious, sustained central funding to build UK-wide resilience to the increasing risks from climate change, the building safety crisis and an ageing population. The move comes as union members voted to accept a pay offer of 3.2%. The union’s leadership has warned that there must be more substantial pay rises in the coming years read more
Rise of far right presents imminent threat to UK workers’ rights, says firefighter union conference (21 May) – FBU delegates at annual conference wearing t shirts reading ‘2025 conference’. The Fire Brigades Union has warned the Labour government against “surrendering to the far right”, describing the rise of the Reform UK party as an “imminent threat to workers in the UK”. At the union’s annual conference, firefighter delegates today passed a motion calling for the trade union and labour movement internationally and in the UK to “urgently prepare themselves for the onslaught of the far right.” It commits the union to “mobilise FBU members to counter the threat of the far right, on the streets and in our communities.” The move follows Keir Starmer’s echoing of Enoch Powell’s infamous “rivers of blood” speech by using the phrase “island of strangers” in a recent speech on migration. The union’s general secretary, Steve Wright said that the FBU would use its Labour affiliation to push for an alternative vision read more
Reeves must tax the rich, says union leader (21 May) – FBU general secretary Steve Wright has commented on a report that a memo from Angela Rayner to the Chancellor called for a series of alternatives to welfare cuts, such as increasing the rate of corporation tax on banks. It suggested extending the freeze on the threshold at which the 45% tax rate is paid (currently set at £125,140), and scrapping the tax-free allowance on dividends. It also called for the lifetime pensions allowance to be reinstated, which puts a cap on how much savers could put into their pension before higher tax is applied read more
FBU responds to the deaths of Jennie Logan and Martyn Sadler (May 17) – The Fire Brigades Union has responded to the deaths of two firefighters at a fire incident in Bicester, Oxfordshire. A member of the public died at the same incident. All three have now been named. Two more firefighters, both FBU members, are still in hospital 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
Critical incidents and post-traumatic stress disorder (21 May) – Recent statistics from the Prison Reform Trust Bromley Briefings show how prison safety has declined significantly over the last decade, with self-harm rates remaining at historically high levels and violence against both staff and prisoners continuing to rise read more
NEC minutes April 2025 read more
National Chair update April 2025 read here
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
Our position on Probation pay (23 May) – Members will have seen yesterday’s pay announcement on the intranet about the Prison Service Pay Review Body and the publication of the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance and, in case needed, we wanted to make clear the current position for staff subject to Probation Service terms and conditions. The recommendations of the Prison Service Pay Review Body do not apply to Probation Service staff who are subject to different terms and conditions as well as a separate pay process 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
Seafarers urged to remember their rights when transiting warlike areas, following renewed threat of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea (21 May) – Nautilus is reminding seafarers of their rights when working onboard vessels due to transit the warlike operations area covering the Red Sea, following an announcement by Yemen’s Houthi movement that it is imposing a ‘maritime blockade’ on the Israeli port of Haifa read more
Nautilus calls for crackdown on flags of convenience and a long-term solution to RFA pay and retention challenges at GFTU congress (21 May) – Nautilus International has renewed its call for urgent reform of global shipping practices, especially flags of convenience (FOCs), and for a solution to RFA pay and retention issues, at the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) 106th Biennial General Council Meeting read more
NUJ
Russia: IFJ and EFJ condemn the escalation of cross-border pressure and intimidation of Russian journalists in exile (23 May) – Meduza CEO Galina Timchenko faces criminal case in absentia. The International and the European Federation of Journalists have both condemned a decision to launch a criminal case in Russia against journalist Galina Timchenko read more
India: Journalist Dharmendra Singh Chauhan dies after being shot (23 May) – Fourth journalist this year killed in the country. Journalist Dharmendra Singh Chauhan has been shot and killed in India, bringing the total number of reporters killed in the country this year to four read more
NUJ celebrates recognition at the New Statesman and Progressive Media Investments (23 May) – The NUJ has secured recognition at the distinguished political magazine the New Statesman and the global publisher Progressive Media Investments (PMI) read more
Support for Palestinian journalists as war in Gaza intensifies (22 May) – IFJ affiliates organise events in solidarity. Solidarity initiatives over the war in Gaza are being organised by affiliate members of the International Federation of Journalists read more
NUJ responds to significant changes announced by ITV (20 May) – The NUJ has expressed its concern over ITV’s announcement of plans to merge Good Morning Britain with the ITV Newsroom from January 2026 read more
Peers vote in favour of artificial intelligence transparency amendment (20 May) – NUJ urges UK government support for copyright owners following a debate of the Data (Use and Access) Bill read more
Equity
Equity members urged to challenge Birmingham’s proposed busking ban (20 May) – Birmingham City Council’s proposals will effectively ban all busking and any form of street entertainment in the city centre 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 Launches Survey to Negotiate Rates for Orchestral Education Work (27 May) – Take part in the survey for Orchestral members delivering education, learning and participation work for orchestras under the Association of British Orchestras (ABO)/MU agreement read more
MU Members Urged to Challenge Birmingham’s Busking Ban (20 May) – MU members are being urged to challenge Birmingham’s busking ban by responding to the council’s consultation and logging their objections to the proposed new Public Space Protection Order by Sunday 25 May 2025 read more
USDAW
Describing the Employment Rights Bill as ‘red tape’ is fundamentally wrong, says Usdaw (21 May) – Retail trade union Usdaw is disappointed that the Conservatives chose to use an opposition day debate today to yet again attack the Labour Government for delivering on their manifesto promise of a new deal for workers read more
Usdaw welcomes the Prime Minister announcing a review of eligibility (21 May) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed Keir Starmer announcing today, in Prime Minister’s Question Time, that the Government will review eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payments at the next Government fiscal event read more
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
Community
Prison officer pay announcement (23 May) – Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP has announced a 4% pay rise for prison officers in 2025-2026 read more
Statement – Liberty Steel (20 May) – Roy Rickhuss CBE, General Secretary of steelworkers’ union Community, said: “Our members at Liberty Steel have endured far too much turbulence and uncertainty over recent years as a result of the erratic and irresponsible way the company has been run. Failed restructuring plans and broken promises from the company have become a familiar, demoralising pattern, and things simply can’t go on as they are. Ever since the collapse of Greensill Capital, we have worked with the company in good faith, even when refinancing deadlines have been missed. Our patience has now run out read more
UVW
“I don’t steal. I’m not a thief” – UVW to sue lse over summary dismissal of 70-year-old migrant cleaner (19 May) – “I’ve worked at LSE for 13 years without any problems. I just forgot about the bracelet. It was a mistake, and it is the first time something like this has happened to me. I have apologised so many times. At my age, you can forget like that” – Janet Olufunke Damiro, LSE cleaner and UVW member read more
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
IWGB
IWGB statement on Supreme Court ruling on legal definition of a woman (15 May) – We condemn the ruling made by the Supreme Court to consider a person’s gender as something that is strictly defined at birth. Transgender people are an integral part of the community that we’re building, and this ruling stands as a clear attack on the protections offered to trans people through the Equality Act read more
CITY CLEANERS STRIKE: ROUND 2! – Outsourced cleaning staff at City University have just announced they will STRIKE AGAIN, from 22nd to 24th May. Join them at their strike rally on Thurs 23rd May at 12pm, outside City University (Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB)! Follow @IWGBUoL on X/Twitter
Mandate (Ireland)
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
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 central London demo is on Saturday 21st June at 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
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
Appeal for support for two victimised Mass Art (Massachusetts College of Art and Design) workers over their participation in a rally over Gaza. This is part of the current nationwide crackdown on opposition, especially in educational bodies, which the Trump administration is demanding. Please send copies of any messages of support to [email protected].
Sign the petition if you haven’t already. Share widely! https://chng.it/9JcTZ8QBcr
Call and email MassArt administration:
MassArt President Mary Grant (617) 879-7077
Like, share, and comment on the Instagram post by Massachusetts Teachers Association Rank and File for Palestine (MTA RF4P) calling to defend our right to protest against genocide and for us to be taken off leave and not disciplined: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJeVFBlxh9b/?igsh=MXRobzA2cjk4dTE3aQ==
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 3rd 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
September
7 NSSN TUC lobby & rally 1pm Brighton
