The NSSN sends New Year greetings to all our supporters and affiliates, and solidarity to all workers and their unions in dispute and taking action.
We have continued to build support for strikes, which are again clearly on the rise as workers fight back against the cost of living squeeze and Starmer’s austerity. Read about them in this, our weekly NSSN bulletin.
We will continue to campaign for the TUC and the unions to enact the policy passed at this September’s TUC Congress to call a national weekend demonstration against Starmer’s austerity offensive.
This is an historic year – the centenary of the 1926 General Strike.
And workers are starting 2026 on the picket line – support the strikes.
- SAVE THE DATE!! 2026 NSSN Conference will be on Saturday 27th June 11am-4.30pm in Conway Hall in London
Oppose Trump’s attack on Venezuela
The NSSN sends new year solidarity greetings to workers worldwide, especially those facing specifically overt and murderous repression from their own governments and invaders.
We oppose Trump’s brutal imperialist assault on Venezuela. We send solidarity greetings to the Venezuelan people, and support the protests taking place.
- Read statements from the following unions – RMT, Unite, PCS, BFAWU, UNISON
- For info about protests, go to the website of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign
After Starmer & Reeves’s Budget and Starmer’s employment rights U-turn, TUC must call demo!
We will continue to support workers taking action to resist the cost of living squeeze, while at the same time continuing to demand that the TUC calls a national weekend demonstration against Starmer’s austerity offensive. This action was passed at September’s TUC Congress and is now TUC policy. The TUC and the unions must now name the date!
Consider taking this brief model motion to your next union meeting:-
- This union NEC/branch/union branch committee/trades council welcomes the unanimous vote at this year’s TUC Congress for the motions from the TUC Disabled Workers Conference and Trades Councils Conference.
- We fully support the demand in the motions: “for the TUC to organise a weekend demonstration against Labour austerity as a launchpad for sustained trade union action in defence of workers and young people.”
- We welcome that this is now official TUC policy and call on our union NEC to demand that the TUC name the date for such a demonstration.
Download and distribute our new NSSN Workplace Report - ‘We’re Struggling Down Here’
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].
FINISHING THE JOB: Demand an Employment Rights Bill #2 – Organised by : Campaign for Trade Union Freedom (CTUF) and Strike Map
As the Employment Rights Bill completes its parliamentary journey, all eyes are on the Tory and Liberal Democrat amendments made to the Bill in the House of Lords. Although these amendments have caused justifiable outrage amongst trade unionists, it is widely predicted that they will be rejected by the government wielding its majority in the House of Commons, and that the original terms of the Bill will be restored. Whilst we recognise the progress made in improving worker’s rights, we believe that a second employment rights bill is needed, one that strengthens the rights of all workers. This would include:-
1. An Immediate repeal of all anti-union laws.
2. A full ban on ‘fire and rehire’, enforceable by injunction.
3. End all zero-hours contracts .
4. A £15 per hour minimum wage with no age exemptions.
5. A statutory right to collective bargaining for all workers and a legal mechanism for creating sector-wide collective bargaining.
6. Amending our labour laws to comply with international standards.
7. Universal employment rights, including for workers on working visas, through a single worker status.
8. All workers to be entitled to all employment rights from day one.
9. A full trade union right to access workers on employers’ premises, enforceable by injunction.
10. End restrictions on industrial action and introduce a positive right to strike, including the right to take solidarity action.
- Sign this form to confirm your commitment to an employment rights bill #2. Please share this action.
Support the striking Birmingham binworkers as agency workers join the picket lines – Join the Brum Bin Strike Megapicket 3-D, 30 January 2026
The NSSN salutes the heroic strike by the Birmingham binworkers, who have been taking indefinite action since March against the brutal fire & rehire by the Labour council, leading to the slashing of their wages by up to £8,000 a year. Outrageously, the council has used vicious strike-breaking measures, backed by Starmer’s government.
However, in an incredible and historic development, agency workers have joined the strike to fight against bullying, harassment and the threat of blacklisting.
We joined the strike rally yesterday of all the binworkers, on the first day of the agency workers’ action.
The long-running dispute is now at a pivotal stage, and a great victory can be won. All unions must now come to their aid. The NSSN will continue to help build solidarity – victory to the Birmingham binworkers!
- Join the Brum Bin Strike Megapicket 3-D, 30 January 2026
Start: Friday, January 30, 2026•06:00 AM
Location: 5 • picket sites, Birmingham and Coventry, See description GB
Host Contact Info: [email protected]
- Go to the Facebook pages of Unite the Union and Unite for a Workers Economy for videos and photos of last week’s strike rally, and keep an eye out on Reel News on X for videos of yesterday’s strike rally via @ReelNewsLondon
Unite: Birmingham council’s strike breaking lies exposed as monthly spend on agencies and outsourcers triples (6 Dec) – Evidence points to council now unlawfully recruiting temporary staff to replace striking agency workers. Birmingham council’s monthly spend on employment agencies and outsourcers has tripled since the bin strike dispute began in January 2025, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Analysis by Unite’s forensic accountants of Birmingham council procurement data shows it is spending an extra £1.1 million per month on agency staff and for services from Coventry-based Tom White Waste. Unite does not believe the council’s denials that it isn’t unlawfully employing temporary staff to replace striking workers. Since agency workers employed by Job and Talent began strike action on 1 December, 20 new temporary staff hired through the Smart Solutions agency have started work at the council’s Smithfield depot. Smart Solutions is also advertising online for temporary bin worker roles at the council. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Instead of trying to break a strike, Birmingham council should stop disgracing itself and get back to talks to find a fair resolution for the bin workers. That is the only way strikes will end.” Directly employed bin workers have been on strike since January over pay cuts of up £8,000 for drivers and loaders. Agency workers employed by Job & Talent began strike action on 1 December over bullying and harassment.
- Birmingham council’s total spend on agency staff in 2024 was £6.4 million, averaging £533,000 a month. There was no spend on Tom White Waste or any equivalent outsourced contract. The total spend on agency staff (Job & Talent) between January and August 2025 was £8.4 million, with another £5 million spent on Tom White Waste – totalling £13.4 million or £1.675 million a month 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/
Watch Reel News video of the 20th September demonstration in Birmingham and keep an eye out on Reel News on X for videos of yesterday’s strike rally – @ReelNewsLondon
Support the Unite Sheffield Bin Strike
New strike tactics at Sheffield waste depot aim to cause increased disruption (16 Oct) – Workers at Veolia will now return to work periodically to disrupt employer’s use of agency strike breakers. Striking workers taking part in a year-long dispute in Sheffield are set to cause greater disruption for their employer as new dates for action have been announced. Members of Unite working for Veolia at the Lumley Street depot have been on strike for over a year in their fight for union recognition. In a new tactic designed to disrupt Veolia’s use of agency staff in strike-breaking roles, workers will now periodically return to work before then heading back to the picket line. Workers will now walk out from 10-16 November, 24-30 November, 8-14 December, 22-28 December, 5-11 January, 19-25 January, 2-8 February, 16-22 February and 2-8 March read more
Donate to the strike fund – Unite NEYH, 60-83-01 20173962
Sign the Statement of Solidarity
Support the Unison Gloucestershire phlebotomists strike
Phlebotomists mark longest-running strike of NHS workers in history with Gloucester rally, says UNISON (17 Nov) – Settling dispute could be done for fraction of chief executive’s salary. Striking health workers will be joined by senior union leaders and supporters today (Monday) to highlight the longest-ever walkout by NHS employees as phlebotomists in Gloucestershire mark their 236th day of industrial action, says UNISON. The 36 specialist staff, who take and handle blood samples from patients, have been on strike since March in a dispute over their demand to be paid fairly for the skills and expertise needed for their roles, says the union. Putting them on to the right pay band would cost their employer, the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, approximately £60,000 per year, says UNISON. It would also recognise the valuable contribution the workers make to health services across the county, adds the union. UNISON has calculated that the cost of ensuring all the trust’s phlebotomists are on the correct wages is just a quarter of chief executive Kevin McNamara’s annual salary for 2024/25 of around £245,000 read more
Picket plan week 43:
- Monday 5th: No picket. Phlebotomist meeting Redwood Education Centre from 08.30 to 11.30.
- Tuesday 6th: Joint picket Gloucester Royal Hospital from 08.00 to 11.30.
- Wednesday 7th: No picket. Phlebotomist meeting place TBC.
- Thursday 8th: Joint picket Cheltenham General Hospital from 08.00 to 11.30.
- Friday 9th: No picket. TBC
Strike Map have produced “I Give a Phleb” badges for the UNISON Gloucestershire Phlebotomists. Over £400 raised and sent already, is 1,000. Every penny to the strike fund. Grab your £1 badge using the following link: https://organiseandstrike.sumupstore.com/product/i-give-a-phleb-gloucestershire-phlebotomists-strike-support-badge-pre-sale
- Donate to the strike fund:-
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
Union News
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RMT
Passengers face filthy trains as DLR cleaners strike over sick pay refusal (30 Dec) – Cleaners on the Docklands Light Railway will strike on New Year’s Eve in a dispute over company sick pay. RMT members employed by contractor Bidvest Noonan will mount picket lines from 6am Wednesday 31 December through to Thursday 1 January, following earlier strike action in late November and early December. Bidvest Noonan has only been willing to discuss the limited possibility of one week’s full sick pay for certain serious or terminal diagnoses, which RMT has branded an insult to its members read more
DLR workers to strike New Year’s Eve in contractor pay dispute (17 Dec)
RMT to demonstrate against Driver Only Operation on East West Rail in New Year (23 Dec) – Rail union RMT, will stage a demonstration at 9am on Monday 5 January outside Marylebone station in opposition to plans to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new East West Rail line. The action follows confirmation from Chiltern Railways that it intends to operate services on the new route without a second safety-critical member of staff, despite RMT’s long-standing opposition to DOO. RMT is clear that a second safety-critical person onboard trains play a vital role in protecting passengers and workers, including providing reassurance, deterring anti-social behaviour, coordinating responses to incidents, managing emergency evacuations and dealing with fires. The recent mass stabbing on an LNER service at Huntingdon station has once again highlighted the importance of trained staff being present onboard to react quickly, raise the alarm and ensure effective coordination with control, signallers and the British Transport Police. The union is demanding clear guarantees that East West Rail services operated by Chiltern will not be DOO and that a second safety-critical member of staff will be a mandatory requirement for trains to run read more
RMT demands FirstGroup be stripped of Avanti West Coast contract over station staffing failures (22 Dec) – Rail union RMT has called for FirstGroup-owned Avanti West Coast to be stripped of its remaining rail contracts and its operations returned to public ownership. The demand comes following continued attacks on station and retail grades, with the company refusing to address serious staffing, safety and accessibility concerns. Avanti has failed to fill long-standing station grade vacancies or retain staff on permanent contracts, while pushing through a de-staffing agenda that threatens passenger safety, accessibility and service quality. These include unsafe single staffing of gatelines, ongoing uncertainty around ticket office staffing and opening times, and a sharp increase in disabled passenger assistance duties, placing additional strain on staff and raising clear safety concerns. The union also has concerns about the wider impact of these decisions on disabled passengers and station accessibility. The union will now step up its campaigning work, including engagement with Disabled People Against the Cuts and Transport Focus read more
RMT hails major insourcing victory as TransPennine Express dispatch workers move in-house (22 Dec) – Rail union RMT celebrated a major victory for rail workers after it was confirmed that the outsourced TransPennine Express dispatch contract will be brought back in-house and transferred to Northern Trains. The decision will see RMT members currently employed by Carlisle Support Services at Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds stations TUPE-transferred into direct employment with Northern Trains. The transfer is expected to be completed by May 2026. RMT says the move represents a significant step forward for their national insourcing campaign and ends years of fragmented employment arrangements for staff carrying out critical frontline duties read more
RMT condemns Amey Rail redundancy plans on Core Valley Lines (19 Dec) – RMT has condemned proposals by Amey Rail to cut 59 jobs on the Core Valley Lines (CVL) transformation project, warning that the plans could lead to industrial action. Amey Rail has confirmed its intention to remove 59 roles from its CVL rail business by March 2026, placing dozens of workers at risk of redundancy across a wide range of operational, engineering, supervisory and management grades. The company claims the job cuts are linked to the natural conclusion of the main programme of works in 2025, despite further work continuing on the project until at least 2027. RMT has challenged both the scale and timing of the proposals, which were announced just before Christmas, and has raised serious concerns about the practicality and fairness of the proposed consultation process. The union is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the redundancy proposals, a commitment to no compulsory redundancies, and enhanced terms to allow for voluntary options in the first instance. RMT is also pressing Amey Rail to fully explore redeployment opportunities across its wider rail operations read more
RMT demands urgent action to protect rights of remand prisoners on hunger strike (17 Dec) – RMT has called on the government to immediately intervene to protect the lives of remand prisoners currently on hunger strike. The prisoners have now been without food for more than 40 days, giving rise to serious concerns about their health, welfare, and the duty of care responsibilities of the authorities. RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “The government must immediately intervene to protect the lives of hunger strikers taking action in support of Palestine…” read more
RMT members at Svitzer Terminals vote for strike action over sick pay (27 Nov) – RMT members employed by Svitzer Terminals at Fawley Esso Refinery have voted overwhelmingly for strike action following the company’s continued failure to resolve the long-running dispute over contractual sick pay. The dispute originates from the TUPE transfer of staff from Solent Towage to Svitzer Terminals, after the company failed to apply sick pay properly in line with long-standing practices. RMT has made multiple attempts over months to resolve the issue through talks but these have failed. This dispute affects all grades employed onboard the Svitzer tugs operating out of the refinery read more
RMT warn of national ballot over assaults after EMR go into dispute on the issue (26 Nov) – Rail union RMT, have put employers on notice over increasing assaults, warning of a national strike ballot across all train companies, if action is not taken. The union has gone into dispute with East Midlands Railway (EMR) following two recent violent incidents at the company. Staff members have had hot water thrown at them and been attacked with a fire extinguisher while at the weekend, rival football fans engaged in a mass brawl on a train stopped at Derby. RMT members have raised repeated concerns about reduced British Transport Police presence, faulty or inadequate safety equipment and the company’s lack of meaningful engagement on these issues. Members say they have exhausted all internal company processes, but no effective action has been taken to address the daily risks they face read more
RMT announces strike action on CrossCountry (21 Nov) – RMT will take strike action on CrossCountry next month after the company failed to resolve long-running issues on pay, staffing and previously agreed commitments. The union has tried repeatedly for months to reach a negotiated settlement. But regretfully the company has failed to honour agreements on overtime payments, staff resourcing and wage discrepancies for different grades read more
Carlisle Support Services must end pay freeze and return to meaningful talks as Northern revenue staff strike (14 Nov) – RMT heavily criticised Carlisle Support Services today for shutting down negotiations and refusing to make any pay offer, on the day contracted out Northern Trains revenue and gate line members take strike action read more
ASLEF
Fighting for equality and inclusion for disabled drivers (16 Dec) – Members of the ASLEF Disabled Members’ Committee mark Disability History Month by reflecting on the union’s work in support of disabled train drivers – and the further progress that the rail industry must make read more
Hull Trains drivers strike as row over ‘unfair sacking’ of colleague continues read more on Hull Live
TSSA
TSSA raises concerns over digital ticketing trial and rail safety (18 Dec) – Rail union TSSA has raised serious concerns after it emerged that government funding is being used to trial digital ticketing technology which could sideline staffed railway ticket offices, with potential implications for passenger safety. East Midlands Railway (EMR) and Transport UK are encouraging passengers to participate in a digital ticketing trial using GPS based technology to track journeys and calculate fares. The trial is funded by the Department for Transport. In 2023, TSSA which represents many hundreds of ticket office staff, led a successful national campaign that forced the then Conservative government to abandon plans to close hundreds of ticket offices across England. The union argued that ticket offices are essential not only for accessibility and affordability but also for safety of women and girls and passenger confidence in the rail network read more
TSSA begins Amey strike ballot over pay (2 Dec) – Railway tracks with platform in view and lighting on. Early morning sky. Rail union TSSA is to ballot hundreds of members employed by Amey after the engineering company implemented a below-inflation pay offer amounting to a real-terms cut in wages. TSSA members employed by Amey across Scotland, Wales, North East, Midlands, London and all Southern regions will be asked to support strike action in the ballot which opens on Wednesday 3 December and closes at 12 noon on Monday 15 December. This action follows Amey’s decision to proceed with a pay offer of 2.2 per cent or £900 underpin, despite the offer being rejected by TSSA members. Industrial action would likely lead to delays and disruption in surveying and maintaining railway infrastructure which is key to a safe running network. Around three hundred TSSA members will be balloted read more
TSSA members to take industrial action at TransPennine Express (17 Nov) – TSSA rail union members working at TransPennine Express (TPE) as Operations Managers have voted unanimously in favour of both strike action and action short of strike, in a dispute over on call working arrangements. To date TPE has refused to offer an acceptable on-call, overtime and compensatory time off in lieu (TOIL) package to staff in the roles of Driver Managers, Operational Development Managers and Driver Operations Managers. Several dozen members at TPE responsible for safety issues and operational problems around the clock were balloted – and of those choosing to vote 100 per cent were in favour of strike action and action short of a strike read more
Unite
BREAKING NEWS!! Luton Airport easyJet strikes off after DHL workers secure improved deal (6 Jan) – Luton Airport strikes by easyJet check-in staff and baggage handlers have been called off after an improved pay offer was secured. The dispute was ended after the 200 workers, who took three days of strike action before Christmas, voted to accept the new offer. The 18-month deal includes a 5.5 per cent increase backdated to October 2025, a 25 per cent increase to night shift premiums and a £250 payment in April 2026… The workers were due to walk out again from Boxing Day until 28 December, causing disruption to hundreds of festive flights. However, the strikes were suspended after talks between Unite, DHL and the conciliation service Acas resulted in the improved deal being offered read more
BREAKING NEWS!! Further strike dates for London Metropolitan Police staff announced (6 Jan) – There will be further disruption to London Metropolitan Police services later this month as workers will walk out for several days in an ongoing pay dispute. The 175 Unite members involved in the dispute work as call centre staff for Met CC and the force’s fleet as vehicle technicians and office staff servicing and dispatching vehicles such as police cars and motorbikes. These workers have been offered an inferior pay rise for 2025/26, despite Met police officers being given a 4.2 per cent pay rise in September 2025. All other constabularies across the UK have given both police officers and police staff the 4.2 per cent increase without detriment. The Met’s Unite members have since rejected two provisional offers – either a below-RPI pay increase of 3.8 per cent or a 4.2 per cent offer, which is conditional on workers relinquishing their current terms and conditions…The latest wave of strikes will take place from 19 to 24 January. The first strike, on New Year’s Eve, caused major disruption including delays in call outs due to the lack of both unmarked and marked police cars and motorcycles with fleet staff walking out read more
Lindsey oil refinery sale must not result in site being ‘mothballed and turned into glorified storage tank’ (5 Jan) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Lindsey oil refinery is a critical piece of UK energy infrastructure. Phillips 66 should not be allowed to just mothball the site and turn it into a glorified storage tank…” read more
Glen Dimplex staff in Portadown are taking two days of strike action beginning today (5 Jan) – Strike action to escalates at Glen Dimplex, Portadown in pay dispute. The strike represents an escalation of a pay dispute which saw workers strike for one day December. Approximately 30 workers will strike across a variety of specialist roles including maintenance, engineering, quality, administrative and supervisory functions. The strike commenced at 00:01 today and will continue until 02:00 on Wednesday [7 January] with pickets lines from 07:00 hours. The staff voted unanimously for strike action having rejected previous inadequate pay offers read more
Cambridge Stagecoach bus strikes escalate into the New Year (2 Jan) – Cambridge bus strikes will continue into the New Year as 200 Stagecoach workers escalate walk outs over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers have rejected two inadequate pay offers from Stagecoach and are demanding a pay increase that reflects the extremely difficult demands of the job and the rising cost of living. They are also clear that any offer must not include reductions in their terms and conditions, such as overtime rates, that would see the company take with one hand and give with the other…Stagecoach made operating profits of £97.3 million in the year to April 2024 on sales of £1.6 billion. The workers, including drivers and engineers, began strike action in late December. Further 24-hour strikes will take place on 5, 10, 19 and 24 January. They will severely impact bus services across the city. Industrial action will escalate if the dispute is not resolved read more
DHL strikes at Luton Airport off after improved offer (22 Dec) – Strikes by DHL workers at Luton Airport this week will no longer go ahead after an improved offer was made to staff involved in a dispute over pay. Members of Unite who work for DHL on an outsourced contract for easyJet as baggage handlers and check-in staff were due to walk out from Boxing Day until 28 December, causing disruption to hundreds of festive flights. However, following talks between Unite, DHL and the conciliation service Acas a new pay offer has been put forward to workers. Strike action for those dates has now been halted to allow members to be balloted on the offer…The 200 workers involved in the dispute had previously walked out for three days from 19 December read more
Certas tanker driver strikes suspended, following improved offer (22 Dec) – Planned industrial action by 400 tanker drivers employed by Certas, have been suspended after the workers received an improved offer. The strikes due to begin today (December 22) and from 5-11 January have been suspended to allow the workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, to be balloted on the new offer. The planned overtime ban which was also due to begin today has also been suspended…If the offer is rejected, then further industrial in the new year is set to take place read more
Health visitors in Wales balloted for strikes due to losing thousands in pay (19 Dec) – Workers preparing to strike due to incorrect grading costing them up to £9000 a year. Health visitors working in South Wales are balloting for strikes in the new year, after their NHS employer refused to pay them the correct salary based on their qualifications which is costing them between £8000 to £9000 per year. A ballot for industrial action opened this week for Unite members who work as health visitors in Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM). The ballot closes on 26 January and should workers vote for strike action this could commence in February. Health visitors who do vital community outreach work for new mothers and families, are furious that they are graded as Band 6 workers. This is despite internal job grading now matching as a Band 7 requiring a masters qualification. The CTM University Health Board has refused to acknowledge their own job descriptions and pay health visitors accordingly. This deliberate act of downgrading is costing health visitors between £8000-9000 per year dependent on where workers are on their pay scale read more
Strikes at Shelter off as workers accept new working hours deal (19 Dec) – Christmas strikes by workers at housing charity Shelter have been averted after Unite members at the organisation voted to accept an offer from the charity. Around 550 staff members had voted for strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions. However, industrial action will no longer go ahead after workers overwhelmingly accepted a new offer of a shortening of the working week from 37 hours to 35 hours, which equates to over a five per cent pay rise. They will also receive two extra days of annual leave, with both improvements effective from 1 January 2026 read more
Doncaster Cheswold Park secure mental health hospital strikes suspended after improved offer (18 Dec) – Strikes by around 120 Cheswold Park hospital workers have been suspended following an improved offer from South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Industrial action scheduled for 18, 19, 25 26 and 31 December and 1 January has been called off to allow the workers to ballot on the offer read more
British Airways cleaners at Heathrow to strike over low pay this Christmas (18 Dec) – Over 80 Unite members employed by facilities services firm OCS to clean British Airways offices and buildings across four terminals at Heathrow are taking industrial action this Christmas over low pay. Staff involved in the dispute are currently paid the minimum wage of £12.21 per hour. Since early last year, these workers have been asking for the London living wage of £13.85 per hour – calculated to match the high cost of living in the capital. Their counterparts on the Mitie contract at Heathrow, who do similar roles, are paid the London living wage…Strikes will take place from today (18) to 29 December. There will also be a demo outside Hatton Cross station today (18) and tomorrow (19) from 12-2pm both days…The workers involved in the dispute are employed under the OCS soft services contract. As well as offices including BA’s Waterside head office, they clean cargo and engineering hangars where planes are repaired read more
Racism and bigotry – the modern migrant experience in the UK (18 Dec) – Survey of Unite’s members coincides with International Migrants Day. Migrant workers across the UK are experiencing appalling racism and bigotry in their workplaces and in their communities, a stark survey by the Unite union has shown read more
Metrolink tram driver strikes off as workers accept deal to tackle fatigue (17 Dec) – Manchester KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited services will operate this weekend and New Year’s Eve after strikes by tram drivers have been called off. The workers, members of Unite, the leading union in passenger transport, have accepted a new deal that will see their employer fix longstanding problems with fatigue and scheduling issues…Strike action by more than 200 workers on Transport for Greater Manchester bus services, who work in roles including ticketing and passenger assistance on Friday (19) and Saturday (20) is still due to go ahead read more
Employment Rights Bill: No more delays in delivering workers’ rights, Unite (16 Dec) – Following the completion of the Employment Rights Bill’s (ERB) passage through Parliament, Unite the UK’s leading union, is calling for it to be fully implemented without any “further dilution or delay” read more
Yorkshire Airedale NHS microbiology workers strike over being underpaid and over worked (16 Dec) – Airedale NHS microbiology workers responsible for carrying out diagnostic tests are to strike over being underpaid and over worked. Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has failed to address the fact that the workers are on the pay band below what they should be for the work they carry out. The trust has also agreed to undertake extra work for another trust that the microbiology workers will have to carry out, increasing the number of call outs during nights and weekends. As a result, out of hours rotas have been changed without consultation or regard to current workloads…The workers will strike from 18 to 25 December, resulting in testing delays for Airedale General Hospitals and local GP services. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more
Sullom Voe oil terminal workers step up strike action in pay dispute (15 Dec) – Altrad workers set for stoppages until January 2026. Unite can confirm that its Altrad membership at the Sullom Voe terminal in the Shetland Islands will escalate disruption in a dispute over pay as strike action resumed today (15 December). The dispute is focused on the pay award which was due to take effect in January 2025. Around 60 contractors including painters, insulators and other staff have rejected two one-off payments instead of a full consolidated (permanent) pay rise. Altrad is blaming the terminal’s operator EnQuest for cost pressures resulting in its refusal to offer a fully consolidated increase just as the broader cost of inflation has hit 4.3 per cent in October. Further 24-hour strike action will take place on 12 and 26 January in addition to a previous stoppage on 1 December. Unite members have emphatically backed industrial action by over 90 per cent read more
New Year’s Eve disruption to London police as staff strike over pay (15 Dec) – There will be disruption to London Metropolitan Police services this New Year’s Eve – one of the most hectic days of the year for the UK’s biggest force – as 175 workers will walk out in a dispute over pay. The workers, members of Unite, work for Met CC as call centre staff, recording crime reports and also within the Met’s fleet services as technicians and office staff servicing and dispatching vehicles such as police cars and motorbikes. They have voted to take 25 hours of strike action starting at 6am on New Year’s Eve as they have not had a pay increase from the Met for 2025/26. This is despite the fact the Met has paid a 4.2 per cent pay rise to police officers and all other forces in the UK have given both police officers and staff the 4.2 per cent increase. Instead, the Met Police has put forward two provisional offers. The first is a below-RPI pay increase of 3.8 per cent, while the second is a 4.2 per cent offer, conditional on workers accepting vastly inferior conditions read more
New strikes at Sellafield as “union-busting” sees workers laid off (12 Dec) – Contractors exploiting legal loophole to lay off workers in Cumbria. A fresh wave of strike action is due to take place at the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria this winter as workers walk out amid union-busting tactics from employers. Unite members will take part in industrial action from 15-19 December that will severely hamper operations at the site in a dispute over Sellafield-specific allowances that would see workers rewarded fairly for their work on a hazardous, nuclear site. In the latest development in the ongoing dispute, workers at five subcontractors are to walk out. This continued phase of the escalation plan is causing widespread disruption due to targeting production more effectively in conjunction with an overtime ban…The strikes come amid “union-busting” tactics from some employers who are exploiting a legal-loophole to allow them to lay off workers involved in the strike action. These layoffs (issued by Altrad, Enigma Industrial Services, Kaefer and William King Construction, PPS Electrical, ES Steel and Shepley Engineers) are taking place under a cover-story of a lack of work, but in reality are retribution for strike action…Unite remains committed to resolving the dispute. The union is calling on employers to enter into discussions with credible solutions that recognise the unique hazards and skills set required at Sellafield. Workers at the following contractors will be taking part in this action: Altrad, Enigma, Kaefer, Stobbarts Limited and Design Grid read more
Christmas chaos at Village Hotels in Leeds as workers walk out (12 Dec) – Staff at hotel join colleagues in Glasgow in taking strike action in dispute over jobs, pay and conditions. Workers at two Leeds hotels are to take strike action for the first time after members voted to walk out. Over 80 per cent of housekeeping staff who are Unite members at the Leeds North and Leeds South Village hotel will take strike action from 26-28 December. At this busy time of year for the hotel, customers will be faced with unmade beds and no cleaning services. Workers at a Village Hotel in Glasgow are already engaged in strike action due to the poor pay and conditions that workers are forced to endure. Unite Hospitality members at Village Hotels in Leeds will go on strike for equal pay, the real living wage and union recognition read more
London Grosvenor Casinos workers to strike over key festive party dates (12 Dec) – All bets are off for Grosvenor Casinos management this festive season, as licenced gaming staff as its three largest venues have voted to take industrial action. Around 140 workers, members of Unite, will walk out in two different 48-hour strikes after rejecting a below-inflation 2.5 per cent pay rise. Staff involved in the dispute operate from the three biggest Grosvenor Casinos in the UK, all based in London. These are Rialto in Leicester Square, the Victoria on Edgware Road and the Gloucester, Gloucester Road. The Unite members involved in the dispute work in roles such as running the poker rooms and roulette tables. These are extremely specialist jobs, which require rigorous training and a legal requirement to hold a licence to be able to work in the industry. The strikes will take place on Boxing Day and 27 December followed by New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, historically very busy days for the casino chain read more
Rally in support of Bassetlaw ICU nurses striking against fire and rehire (12 Dec) – Dispute has escalated after trust tries to union bust by threatening to not pay nurses on days they are working. Protesters will rally in support of Bassetlaw nurses striking against fire and rehire contract changes on Monday. The nurses are striking over fire and rehire contract changes that will force them to rotate between Bassetlaw and Doncaster Royal Infirmary. The nurses fear the transfers are one more step towards Bassetlaw hospital losing its ICU permanently through ‘decommissioning by stealth’. They would also face overly long commutes before and after 13-hour shifts, with the risk of exhaustion putting themselves and patients at risk. In an attempt to union bust, the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has written to the nurses and told them that they will not be paid if they take action short of strike action. The nurses began action short of strike action through a ban on working on any ward or unit other than Bassetlaw ICU on 13 November. This week, the trust said it will class them as volunteers and not pay them if they continue to only work on the ICU as part of their industrial action…The nurses are striking from 15 December to 19 December. Industrial action will further intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more
Fresh bus strikes across West London as workers reject latest pay offer (11 Dec) – Staff at London Transit to walk out in run-up to Christmas. Over 350 workers employed by London Transit bus company in West London are to take further strike action after rejecting the company’s latest pay offer. Drivers and other workers have already taken part in industrial action this autumn and will now walk out on 12, 15, 22, 23 and 24 December. Strikes will cause widespread disruption across west London with Christmas markets and festivities in full flow. Drivers, engineers and stores workers based at the Westbourne Park depot are furious at the latest pay offer they received which included a new, lower paid starter grade for drivers read more
Transport for Greater Manchester workers join Metrolink Tram staff in December strikes (11 Dec) – TfGM and tram strikes to take place over busiest shopping period of the year. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) workers begin a fresh round of strike action tomorrow over fair pay. More than 200 Unite members, who undertake vital roles including ticketing, passenger assistance and information services for the bus network, began industrial action in October. They are striking alongside their colleagues in the Unison union. The workers have rejected a below inflation 3.2 per cent pay rise and are demanding an increase that reflects the rising cost of living and the increased workloads they have taken on since the creation of the Bee Network. TfGM can well afford to improve its pay offer as it holds £2.1 billion in reserve…Fresh strikes will take place on 12, 13, 19 and 20 December, with disruption across the Bee bus and tram network read more
First Aberdeen drivers and staff celebrate early pay increase (11 Dec) – Over 300 bus drivers and staff at First Aberdeen have secured a new pay deal eight months ahead of schedule. Around 300 drivers achieved an inflation beating wage increase of 5.3 per cent in a one-year deal effective from December 2025 to December 2026. The original timeline for the new increase taking effect was scheduled for August 2026. The pay win lifts the drivers’ hourly wage from £14.28 per hour to £15.03 per hour…In addition to the drivers, a separately negotiated increase was also applied to around 30 workers in administrative, clerical, and service roles for First Aberdeen read more
VUE cinema workers set for historic strike action in Glasgow (10 Dec) – Four weeks’ strike action over jobs, pay and conditions. Dozens of VUE Entertainment cinema workers based at the St Enoch’s centre in Glasgow will begin strike action tomorrow (11 December) to secure better jobs, pay and conditions. In a historic first at a major Scottish cinema chain, Unite hospitality members are taking the action in a fight for the real living wage for all workers aged 18 and over, trade union recognition, and safe subsidised transport for workers at the end of late shifts. Strike action will last for four weeks from Thursday 11 December and ending on Wednesday 7 January, unless there is a resolution to the dispute read more
Thirty workers targeted after speaking out about dangerous conditions at Royston site, where two colleagues have also tragically committed suicide (10 Dec) – Thirty workers targeted after speaking out about dangerous conditions at Royston site, where two colleagues have also tragically committed suicide. More than 30 workers have been suspended from the Johnson Matthey’s hydrogen gigafactory construction site in Hertfordshire for refusing to accept worsening dangerous conditions. Workers are also angry that contractors BGEN and Bilfinger are disregarding mental as well as physical health, following the companies’ inadequate response to two separate on site suicides. The safety breaches include: No running water or heating, no cold weather PPE and inadequate ventilation despite the grinding of paint containing carcinogens. The site was shutdown by the operators for two weeks due to the health and safety concerns; however the issues have not only not been resolved but are worsening. BGEN and Bilfinger are refusing to allow union access on site and two workplace reps have been suspended. Unite understands Johnson Matthey has instructed BGEN and Bilfinger to union bust, despite both companies being part of the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry. The £80 million government backed project will produce hydrogen battery components for electric vehicles when it is completed read more
Turners’ tanker drivers resume halt to fuel deliveries at nation’s largest airports (10 Dec) – New supply shock to Edinburgh and Glasgow airlines. Grangemouth based tanker drivers working for Turners (Soham) Limited will resume strike action this week in a long-running pay dispute impacting fuel supplies to major airlines operating at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports. The Turners drivers will strike for four days on December 11 and 12 and December 22 and 23. Previous strike action took place during October and November. The imminent strike action follows an ongoing impasse in talks involving Unite and Turners through the auspices of the conciliation service Acas. The company has refused to improve on a real terms pay cut amounting to one per cent for 2025 at a time when the broader inflation figure stands at 4.3 per cent read more
Christmas shortages of Guinness Zero as strikes at Diageo plant in Belfast back on after workers reject substandard pay offer (9 Dec) – Empty shelves could greet shoppers looking for Guinness Zero this Christmas after Unite members at Diageo in Belfast voted overwhelmingly to reject an inadequate pay offer from management and to take strike action. Around 90 workers will commence an eight-day strike from 7am on Friday 12 December continuing until the early hours of Saturday 19 December. A previous eight-day strike was due to commence on Friday 5 December but was suspended by workforce reps to allow consideration of the new pay offer made the day before. The strike will shut down the site which is the world’s largest producer of Guinness Zero. The workers are seeking a pay deal ending the pay gap with Diageo’s site in Runcorn, England. Earlier this year Diageo reported net profits of more than $2.5 billion globally and a key driver of that success is Guinness Zero – the UK’s best-selling alcohol-free beer read more
Scandinavian Airlines workers at Heathrow in Christmas strikes (9 Dec) – Cabin crew to strike for four days over pay. Grinch-style behaviour from employer. Over 130 cabin crew working for Scandinavian Airlines Services (SAS), based out of Heathrow, are taking strike action that could see festive flights to and from Scandinavia under threat. Members of Unite are furious at the lack of a decent pay offer from the company with the current offer below the rate of inflation and not being backdated to their pay anniversary date. They will now walk out on 22, 23, 24 and 26 December. Cabin crew are so badly paid they have reported having to use food banks when landing in Scandinavia as they cannot afford meals before flying back home to the UK. While other crew members report resorting to having to sleep in their cars overnight in service station because SAS won’t pay for or subsidise hotels for staff read more
Bosch Rexroth workers set for week-long strike action after new offer rejected (5 Dec) – Dispute based on Glenrothes workers facing drastic wage cut
Unite has confirmed today (5 December) that over 280 Unite members at Bosch Rexroth based in Glenrothes will strike next week following the rejection of a new pay offer. The workers emphatically rejected the latest unacceptable offer by Bosch Rexroth which would have still drastically cut pay by up to 22 per cent a month through short term working over nine months. The initial cut in wages proposed by the company was up to 40 per cent. Bosch Rexroth in its latest offer further proposed an annualised hours system which could put workers into 37 hours of debt. The system means that if a worker is paid for more hours than they have worked the company can recover the overpayment on a debt basis. The initial proposal was up to 70 hours in debt. Strike action will start at 06:00 on 8 December ending at 05:59 on 15 December. Pickets will be situated outside the factory at Viewfield Industrial Estate, Glenrothes, KY6 2RD. Strike action was supported by 95 per cent of Unite’s membership in a high turnout read more
Christmas chaos at BAE Systems as workers escalate strike action (4 Dec) – Members of the Unite, the UK’s largest trade union in the defence and aerospace sector, are fighting against a real-terms pay cut being offered by BAE despite the company making over £3 billion in profits. Around 160 staff who work in safety critical roles will take further strike action at least until 24 December, that will see sites in Warton and Salmesbury severely affected. Previous strikes have seen managers without the same level of skills, and qualifications attempting to fill the roles done by experienced workers. Other staff will be taking action short of strikes including a refusal to travel, refusal of overtime and a refusal to take on additional work… Staff have already been on strike from 26 November until 17 December and this latest announcement will now see industrial action continue through until Christmas Eve read more
Bilfinger offshore workers to strike over pensions (2 Dec) – Unite has announced that over 400 offshore members employed by Bilfinger UK Limited have supported taking strike action in an escalating dispute over pensions. A majority of Bilfinger workers have emphatically backed strike action in a fight to secure a fairer pension deal. Unite members are demanding that Bilfinger move to a gross earnings pension scheme like many other private sector and offshore companies because workers are losing out on thousands of pounds in pension contributions due to their pattern of pay being weekly. The majority of Bilfinger workers are enrolled in a statutory minimum workplace pension scheme where the company pays a maximum three per cent of “qualifying earnings” contribution. The qualifying earnings income is between £6,240 and £50,270. Anything above or below that does not factor in pension contributions. It means Bilfinger’s annual pension contribution is capped at £1,320.90 per year irrespective of income. Unite estimates that around £2254 is being lost every year in employer pension contributions when compared with a gross salary pension scheme for a worker earning £59,580.36…If Bilfinger fails to act on the pensions issue then strikes will be called in the coming weeks read more
Council and school staff need a fair pay rise, say unions (2 Dec) – Unions representing 1.4 million council and school staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are calling for a wage rise of at least £3,000 to recognise soaring workloads and increasing household costs, they say today (Monday 1 December). Unite, UNISON and GMB have submitted their joint annual local government pay claim for 2026-27, demanding a substantial award from April after years of effective pay cuts, which have left staff struggling to keep up with rising household bills. The unions are warning pay for council and school staff continues to lag behind many other public services. In turn, low wages have led to a recruitment and retention crisis while demand for key services – such as social care, children’s services and housing support – has soared. Local authority employers gave a 3.2% uplift this year, but that has already been surpassed by inflation, which currently stands at 3.6%. The pay claim for 2026-27 calls for an increase of at least £3,000 or 10% (whichever is greater) for all staff, as well as a minimum hourly rate of £15. Unions say that since 2010, the real value of local government pay has fallen by more than 26%. That has left many workers finding it hard to keep pace with housing costs, food prices, transport fares and energy bills read more
Festive and January sales London bus chaos as drivers vote to strike (27 Nov) – There will be travel chaos in London this December and January as 350 bus drivers will walk out in a dispute over union busting and bullying. The drivers, who are members of Unite, work for the Lea Interchange Bus Company (part of Stagecoach) at the Lea Interchange Bus Garage in Leyton, East London. They operate several routes across north east London. Unite representatives at the depot have been the target of aggressive behaviour since a change in management a few months ago. The chair of the branch was suspended, dismissed and then reinstated, while another rep has been suspended on trumped-up charges following an altercation with management. Unite believes the reps are being targeted for undertaking trade union activities, which goes against employment law… After 98 per cent of Unite members voted to strike, drivers will walk out on 12 and 13 December and 8 and 9 January. This will impact busy Christmas and January sales shopping periods as one affected route is the 97 which serves the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre. Other routes that will see delays and cancellations will be the 58, 86, 135, 236, 276, 308, 339, 488, D8, W13, W14 and 678 read more. Email messages of solidarity to [email protected]
Unite Hospitality Village Hotel Glasgow Strike Action (27 Nov) – Workers at the Village Hotel Glasgow, including staff in the Pub & Grill and the franchised Starbucks – have taken the bold step of launching five weeks of strike action from 28 November 2025 to 2 January 2026 read more
NO to union-busting at Sanctuary read more on Unite Housing Workers LE/1111 branch website
Unite’s anger as Aer Lingus plans to close Manchester Airport base (24 Nov) – Unite has today (24 November) responded with anger to proposals by Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus to close its Manchester Airport base. The airline has issued a redundancy notice, which has put over 200 workers at risk including 150 cabin crew who are represented by Unite. Aer Lingus claims this is due to the base “underperforming’” but has failed to provide any information to support its claim. Last year, Aer Lingus recorded an operating profit of €205m and has projected profits of around £35 million from just two aircraft operating three long haul routes at Manchester Airport…Cabin crew at Aer Lingus, who work on the three routes to Barbados, New York JFK and Orlando operating out of Manchester Airport Terminal 2, have been involved in a pay dispute with their employer since last month and have walked out in several days of strike action. While Unite members have voted for further strike action, the union has offered to halt this in order to properly negotiate with Aer Lingus on the future of the Manchester base read more
Christmas delivery chaos as UPS workers ballot for strikes (21 Nov) – Consumers are facing major delays to Christmas and January sales parcel deliveries nationwide as Unite members working for UPS ballot for strike action. Over 2,000 Unite members at the firm, which is headquartered in Feltham, West London, are being balloted over industrial action in a dispute about pay and conditions. Workers including delivery drivers have rejected the company’s latest pay offer of a 2.8 per cent increase and 3.2 per cent increase for 2025 and 2026 respectively. The pay offer is less than the inflation rate (RPI) of 4.5 per cent and a real terms pay cut…The ballot opened this week and closes on 3 December. UPS has already attempted to interfere in the democratic process by putting up posters in its workplaces advising workers not to vote in the ballot. Action could begin in mid-December, hitting last-minute Christmas gift deliveries as well as purchases made during the popular Boxing Day and January sales read more
First Glasgow workers strike ballot to force buses off the road (19 Nov) – Dispute to hit Glasgow bus depots as workers demand better jobs, pay and conditions. Unite has confirmed today (Wednesday 19 November) that workers who clean and refuel buses for First Bus in Glasgow are being balloted over jobs, pay and conditions. Around 50 First Bus cleaners, fuellers and shunters at the Caledonia, Scotstoun, Blantyre and Overtown bus depots are involved in the dispute. The bus workers and cleaners are demanding that a proposed pay increase is brought into line with other bargaining groups including drivers, because they are the lowest paid within the First group. Without the cleaning, refuelling and re-charging of First Glasgow’s fleet then buses across Glasgow will have to be taken off the roads for safety, cleanliness and re-charging reasons… The ballot opens today (19 November) and closes on 16 December. If the ballot is successful, then strike action is expected to take place from late December read more
Unite launches strikes ballot over Edinburgh council tracking drivers (19 Nov) – Ballot opens on Friday 21 November and closes on 5 January 2026. Unite the union will ballot around 100 workers employed by the City of Edinburgh Council in a dispute over tracking drivers in housing services. The dispute is over the use of data collected by telematics in vehicles. In June 2025, Edinburgh council proposed introducing ‘exception reports’ which record each time a vehicle is used more than an hour before or after a shift. These reports are thereafter sent on to line manages.
Unions previously negotiated a telematics policy with the council so that it was based on the system improving driving standards and ensuring safety. It had protections against using the technology to intrude on members’ privacy. The policy was agreed to in May 2023. Under the policy, managers must request telematics data from Fleet Services and have legitimate reasons for accessing the data. The council is now trying to breach its own policy through exception reports. Unite’s housing services members are concerned about ‘overreach’ into their privacy, and the potential abuse of the telematics system by management to target workers which will lead to disciplinary triggers if a commute takes more than an hour. The union has raised repeated concerns with Edinburgh council to avoid an escalation in the industrial dispute, but management have continued to signal their intention to proceed with the exception reports… The ballot opens on Friday 21 November and closes on 5 January 2026. If the ballot for industrial action is successful, then industrial action in the new year by Unite’s members would lead to all housing services repairs and maintenance being cancelled for Edinburgh tenants. In a consultative ballot in August, Unite’s members across all housing services trades including electricians, joiners, heating engineers, and plumbers overwhelmingly backed strike action and action short of a strike read more
Diligenta staff start national strike in pay dispute (18 Nov) – Unite members at five Diligenta sites walk out today over pay cut. Unite members employed by finance sector outsourcer Diligenta have today (Tuesday 18 November) started industrial action across five sites in a dispute over pay. Diligenta management have been told for months by Unite that the strike action could have been avoided if they had given its workforce an acceptable pay rise this year. The strike action will cause considerable disruption to Dilgenta’s many clients, but the company has only got itself to blame. Management have had every opportunity to make Unite members a fair pay offer but has refused to even take part in negotiations. Approximately 1,000 Unite members working at Diligenta sites in: Liverpool, Glasgow, Reading, Edinburgh and Stirling will hold an initial 24-hour strike on Tuesday 18 November from 00:01 until 23.59. The dispute is now set to escalate as further strikes have now been scheduled for Friday 28 November, Monday 1 December, and Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 December read more
MCL Medics set to strike on Harbour Energy platforms (11 Nov) – Unite the union can confirm that over a dozen offshore medics employed by MCL Medics, who provide lifesaving services, are set for strike action. The medics work on the Armada, Britannia, Jasmine, Judy, Lomond, and North Everest assets owned by Harbour Energy. In a long-running dispute over pay levels and training allowances, MCL Medics have backed strike action, and unanimously rejected an unacceptable pay offer from the company. The medics are now set for three 24-hour stoppages over 21-22 November, 5-6 December and 19-20 December. A continuous ban on overtime will also start on 21 November read more
Imperial College union membership grows as strike escalates (11 Nov) – Dodgy pay figures used by hugely wealthy university driving anger amongst workers. There has been an increase in the number of Imperial College London workers taking industrial action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said as it announced further strikes. Unite membership at Imperial has increased by 10 per cent due to the dispute and is continuing to grow, with other unions also reporting an increase in new members at the university. Workers are angry that the university’s management is refusing to restart talks even after it was revealed that faulty benchmarking data was used to calculate an insulting two per cent pay deal it has imposed on the workforce. This imposed deal is in effect a substantial real-terms pay cut, as RPI inflation currently stands at 4.5 per cent. This equates to staff having to work for a week for free this year… Around 1,200 teaching and non-teaching workers are involved in the dispute, including around 250 Unite members. The workers took four days of strike action in October. They will walk out again on 13, 14, 25, 26, 27 and 28 November. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more
CWU
CWU LIVE – The Employment Rights Bill Has PASSED w/ General Secretary Dave Ward (18 Dec) – Final CWU Live episode of the year! A brilliant discussion with General Secretary, Dave Ward, on what the recently passed Employment Rights Bill means for members, how it strengthens trade unions, and why we’re continuing to campaign for sectoral collective bargaining watch video
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]
DWP members in Lincoln continue their strike action for a further two weeks (5 Jan) – DWP members in Lincoln Service Centre began a further two weeks of strike action today (5) to follow on from the 31 days of strike action they have already taken. Members who work in the service centre are absolutely determined to fight to keep their jobs in Lincoln. As low paid workers they cannot afford to travel long distances to remain working in the DWP and they have been clear that redundancy is not an option for them. DWP are refusing to back down on their announcement to close the Lincoln Service Centre, which could see over 80 members of staff face the risk of redundancy read more
FCDO restructure – Bargaining demands and Indicative ballot (23 Dec) – PCS is running an indicative online ballot of all members in FCDO and Wilton Park with a deadline of 2pm on Friday 9 January. Members are asked to tell us if you support our bargaining demands, and if you are prepared to take industrial action. While some progress has been made in dispute talks between PCS and FCDO, the department is still failing to consult PCS meaningfully on a range of key issues. Full details are in the Members’ Briefing issued on 22 December. At our dispute meeting with FCDO on 18 December, your PCS representatives again asked FCDO to pause the restructure until reviews into the work of the FCDO are completed and the organisation redesigned, based on those reviews. We said that PCS would pause our campaign opposing the job cuts in response. However, FCDO would not agree. Unfortunately, this gives us no choice but to press ahead with an indicative ballot on industrial action read more
Two weeks to go to DWP strike ballot (23 Dec) – Vote yes for fair pay in the DWP strike ballot, which opens on 5 January with an online rally on PCS’s social media channels. From 5 January to 16 February, DWP members will be asked in a statutory ballot if they are willing to take strike action over pay, after receiving an insulting pay offer. To mark the launch of the ballot, PCS will be running a live online rally on 5 January at 6pm. It will be broadcast on X, Facebook and YouTube read more
PCS urges HMRC to intervene in Visa Sponsorship case (23 Dec) – The R&C group secretary has written to the permanent secretary to ask him to intervene and help our member who will otherwise have to leave the UK by 4 January read more
PCS members in Met Police and MOPAC to strike in January (22 Dec) – Over 6500 PCS members in London will strike in disputes over pay. Around 6,500 civilian staff at Met Police will strike on 15 January in an ongoing dispute over the withholding of a London cost-of-living allowance. And over 130 members at the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) will strike from 12 to 15 January over what amounts to a real-terms pay cut. This comes as recent PCS action has forced a U-turn on the Met’s planned closure of police station front counters. The Met Police civilian staff are demanding they receive the same fully consolidated £1,250 London allowance that their officer colleagues receive. Their previous day of strike action on 5 November is thought to have cost Met Police more in staffing cover than it would have done to meet members’ demands. The members at MOPAC voted by 94% to take strike action after rejecting managements’ pay offers of 1.5% and then 2% – both real-terms pay cuts. Both groups of members will hold a rally on 15 January outside City Hall when the Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is expected to attend Sadiq Khan’s first Mayor’s Question Time read more
PCS statement on treatment of hunger strikers on remand (22 Dec) – PCS is deeply concerned about the developing situation facing eight pro-Palestinian prisoners on remand who are currently on hunger strike read more
Update on Tate Galleries dispute (22 Dec) – Since 30 September, PCS has been in dispute with Tate Galleries over the employer’s failure to offer an above-inflation pay award for a second consecutive year. PCS remains committed to working with the employer to resolve the dispute. Following a meeting between both parties on 4 December, Tate Galleries has agreed to produce a series of proposals on how to resolve the dispute. Tate has been clear they cannot afford a further increase to the 3% pay award for 2025/26 due to their financial position. The organisation’s accounts from 2024/26, for example, revealed a deficit of £5million. The organisation has blamed a reduction in grant-in-aid funding, Covid-19, and Brexit for a reduction in their revenue during Maria Balshaw’s tenure as director. However, concerns remain about financial mismanagement at Tate. Tate Galleries are due to put forward proposals for better terms and conditions to PCS by 9 January 2026. This will be followed by a meeting between PCS and Tate Galleries on 12 January. While PCS welcomes the move for better terms and conditions for workers, we are continuing to push for an inflation-proof pay rise with an element of restoration. Should the proposals put forward by Tate Galleries be rejected, PCS will consider further industrial action in the new year read more
British Library members asked to sacrifice terms and conditions for pay (22 Dec) – On 12 December, management approached PCS with a revised pay offer which involved scrapping employees’ health cash plans to subsidise a 4.2% pay award. As the majority of our members at the British Library are low-paid workers, they rely heavily on the health cash plan for routine health expenses such as eye tests, dental treatment, and prescriptions. As such, the revised offer was rejected by PCS on the basis that it would translate into a worse pay deal than any previous offers. Since then, the British Library (BL) has returned to its offer of 3.8%, with a £2,000 uplift for employees on the Grade C minimum, and the promise of a review of the alternative working pattern (AWP) allowance for security officers. The offer does not include restoration for last year’s shortfall when other public sector workers received 5% in line with the civil service pay remit but BL workers received only 3%. Almost half of Grade C staff would not be entitled to the £2,000 uplift, meaning the longest-serving members of staff would be earning the same as new starters. In addition, we are still awaiting a pay review that was promised three years ago. In a letter to PCS on 18 December, the British Library stated, “We have worked in good faith to address valid concerns raised only to have further demands made and conditions for ending industrial action changed.” This is incorrect. Our original pay claim in March contained seven asks, and we have since centred on three main demands in an attempt to settle the dispute:-
- Inflation-proof pay with restoration
- Addressing grade compression for Grade Cs
- AWP allowance for security officers.
PCS met with the British Library on 15 December to discuss alternatives to resolve the dispute, including multi-year pay awards, pay modernisation, and a joint approach with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Almost all proposals were rejected by the Library on the basis of affordability. This latest refusal comes off the back of repeated insults from the British Library, such as advising workers to ‘skip’ Christmas presents for the year to help with the cost-of-living crisis. Meanwhile, we have heard that the British Library has promoted eight senior members of staff to interim director posts, without transparency or interviews. The British Library has repeatedly claimed they are in dispute with a “minority of workers”. However PCS represents nearly 500 members across both British Library sites in St Pancras and Boston Spa, making us the largest trade union at the library. In negotiations with management, PCS has repeatedly highlighted the results of an earlier survey of unionised staff which revealed that 71% found their salary insufficient to meet basic needs such as groceries, bills, and transport costs…As of 19 December, the British Library has said there will be no further increases to the pay award for 2025/26. Both parties have agreed to meet with ACAS in an attempt to resolve the dispute read more
Palace of Westminster security staff to strike again on New Year’s Eve (19 Dec) – The security staff’s fourth day of strike action threatens to disrupt a planned event by Speaker of the Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Over 300 PCS members who work in security at the Palace of Westminster will strike on 31 December in their ongoing dispute over a loss of annual leave, pay and terms and conditions. The 24-hour strike follows previous action in September and November. The strike on 31 December has already led to the cancellation of the Commons Terrace New Year’s Eve event and is expected to force Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, to cancel another function, a charity event, that evening. As speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay is responsible for the parliamentary estate, but he has refused to intervene in the dispute or speak up for the strikers read more
More strike action announced at Border Force Maritime (27 Nov) – Following the success of their strike action on 14 November, which rendered several vessels non-operational, our Border Force Maritime members will strike again on 1 December over frozen allowances and unresolved changes to terms and conditions. More than 120 PCS members who patrol UK waters, including the English Channel, are striking from 6am to 6pm, across all Maritime staff. In a ballot which closed last month, 96% of members voted for strike action and 94.95% for action short of a strike, on a turnout of 80% read more
Get the PCS Samba Band to your protests and demonstrations – go to their Facebook page and on X/Twitter @PCS_Samba_Band
Prospect
Tech workers speak out over long hours and pressure to opt out of legal protections (22 Dec) – Prospect’s new survey of workers in the UK’s tech sector paints a picture of a workforce under pressure. The survey found that around half of tech workers have been asked to opt out of the Working Time Directive, raising fresh concerns about burnout and work-life balance read more
Workers at the Planning Inspectorate to take industrial action (15 Dec) – Prospect members working as planning inspectors and other professional staff within the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) are to take industrial action in a dispute over pay and job evaluation. Our members at the Planning Inspectorate play a vital role in helping to deliver the Government’s growth missions, whether for key national infrastructure, national housing targets, or smaller scale approvals and appeals. The industrial action short of strike will commence today (15 December) and could run until 23 May 2026 unless progress can be made to resolve the dispute. It comes after a ballot in which 79% voted in favour of taking action. The action will be continuous and consist of only working contracted hours and a voluntary overtime ban. The action is taking place after the imposition of a rejected pay deal which results in below inflation pay awards for significant numbers of members linked to a contested job evaluation exercise and the freezing or reducing of pay minima and maxima for some grades read more
ONS take industrial action over hybrid working policy (5 Nov) – Prospect members at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have vote to extend further industrial action short of strike in their ongoing dispute over the department’s handling of its return-to-office policy. The policy, announced in spring 2024 and implemented later that year, requires staff to attend the workplace at least 40% of the time. It was introduced without meaningful consultation and ignores successful flexible and hybrid working arrangements that have previously delivered strong results for both ONS and the public read more
FDA
Why anonymous attacks must stop: Dave Penman on the “damage” caused by briefings (19 Dec) – FDA General Secretary Dave Penman on the untold damage done by anonymous briefings against the civil service, and why this pattern needs to change read more
Reform UK’s plans to cut swathes of corporate functions without impacting frontline services “unrealistic”, says FDA (17 Dec) – FDA General Secretary Dave Penman appears on GB News to discuss Reform UK’s plans for the civil service. The FDA has responded to Reform UK’s proposals for civil service reform if the party enters government, which include plans to cut 68,500 jobs, a reduction of 13% read more
GMB
Tens of thousands of women unsafe in men’s safety equipment (5 Jan) – Ten of thousands of women across the UK feel unsafe, embarrassed and scared at work because they are forced to wear Personal Protective Equipment designed for men’s bodies read more
Airedale hopsital workers announce 7 day strike (5 Jan) – Nearly 200 essential staff at Airedale Hospital will take seven days of strike action in a fight for pension equality. Workers, including porters, domestic, catering and security staff, will walk out from 20 January to 26 January. The workers, outsourced to AGH Solutions (AGHS) a wholly owned subsidiary of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust in 2018, have already won major victories to bring their terms and conditions closer to NHS standards. However, the issue of pension harmonisation remains unresolved. Currently, some AGHS employees receive the NHS pension, while many others do not. The disparity is stark read more
40 per cent of school support and early years staff worried about Christmas cash (5 Jan) – Almost 40 per cent of school support and early years staff are worried about having enough money to feed their families this Christmas. The mass survey of more than 4,600 school support workers and those working in early years settings shows more than half are also worried about having enough money to but Christmas presents for this families. The average teaching assistant salary is just over £17,500 a year, with early years paid slightly more at £19,000. Yet almost three quarters feel obliged to bring things on for the children in their care, from treats, to presents and even Christmas clothing, including raincoats from charity shops for children who come in without adequate outdoor gear. Meanwhile the lack of time off during term causes big issues for many – more than half of those with primary age children have been unable to take time off to watch their own child’s nativity for at least three years and just 6 per cent able to do any festive shopping in the week. One worker said they had been docked an hour’s pay for attending a funeral read more
Govt ‘must go further’ to protect ceramics (29 Dec) – A report outlining recommendations to Government on safeguarding and futureproofing the UK’s ceramics sector has been launched today. The report, headed up by the ceramics union GMB, the Trade Union Congress and the independent environmental think tank group Green Alliance, is the first of it type to turn the experiences of workers in the sector at the heart of its recommendations. It comes after several high profile closures of iconic pottery brands in 2025, and alarm bells were rung that Government was not taking urgent action to support the sector read more
GMB win £1billion in equal pay cases (27 Dec) – Women have won more than £1 billion in equal pay they were owed following campaigns by GMB Union. Hundreds of thousands of women working in councils across the UK in jobs done mainly by women, such as care, cleaning, catering, are graded lower or have worse terms and conditions than male dominated roles like refuse collection – even when they are of equal value. Thanks to GMB campaigns, in councils from Birmingham to Falkirk, thousands of those who were systematically underpaid for years compared for male colleagues have now been paid £1.095 billion in money they were owed. But as 2026 looms, 40,000 claims remain outstanding across 28 local authorities – likely to run into hundreds of millions of pounds. A further 10,000 claims are set to launched across five more councils read more
Christmas Cheer(ios) as Wirral cereal workers win £10,000 bonuses after site closure threat (22 Dec) – Cereal workers have seen off a site closure threat and secured better pay and conditions, after GMB-led negotiations. The long term future of CPUK’s Bromborough site where Lidl, Asda, Aldi and others own-brand cereals are made is now guaranteed – saving 250 jobs. From December these workers have transferred to a new company, Sincereal. Original proposals were for full closure of the site – meaning more than 300 jobs lost. Workers have secured a strong package read more
‘Historic’ day as Birmingham equal pay claim milestone arrives (19 Dec) – GMB Union, representing thousands of equal pay claimants at Birmingham City Council, has today responded to news that workers will today [Wednesday 10 December] receive their individual settlement figure. The news follows a four-year campaign to end historic pay discrimination at Birmingham City Council, led by women workers in GMB union read more
Thames Water bonuses should be scrapped (16 Dec) – GMB Union has said 2.5 million in retention payments to Thames Water top brass should be scrapped – rather than deferred into the new year read more
Dozens of Bromley Parking Wardens to protest outside council meeting (8 Dec) – Dozens of GMB members employed as parking wardens will protest outside the full council meeting of London Borough of Bromley tonight. The outsourced workers are employed by the council’s contractor APCOA, a multi-million pound, multi-national company. The members were taking a third day of action today, after no further pay offers were made by the company since their last strike read more
Strike at ‘frozen turkey capital’ this Christmas (2 Dec) – Workers at one of the UK’s largest frozen food facilities will walk out from today. Members of GMB Union have begun a two week walk-out at frozen food storage giant Magnavale Easton. The Lincolnshire based company employs nearly 100 people and is one of the areas largest storage facilities for frozen turkey products on the lead into Christmas. With customers including owners of the Bernard Matthews brand, the 2 Sister Food Group, concerns are mounting about the impact the strike action could have on operations at the site and availability of turkeys on the run up to Christmas. Strike action will take for two weeks place until Sunday 14 December read more
Christmas crisp shortage? Hula-Hoops workers vote to strike (28 Nov) – The UK faces a Christmas crips shortage as almost 50 workers making Hula-Hoops, McCoy’s, Pom-Bears and Discos vote to strike. A majority of 85 per cent of process operatives at KP Snacks in Billingham vote for industrial action after the company imposed additional duties and responsibilities without any increase in pay. Bosses have now halted all holiday requests while it evaluates the potential impact of industrial action, in what looks like a punitive measure. GMB Union is seeking legal advice on whether this decision is unlawful. Members will now meet to discuss strike dates read more
Salford chemical workers in rights fight (28 Nov) – Chemical workers at Luxfer MEL Technologies in Salford are taking action to protect their union recognition. Currently, the company recognises GMB Union to negotiate on pay, conditions, jobs and other key workplace issues. Bosses have now announced they will end the voluntary arrangement in January. In response, GMB will apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for statutory recognition, a stronger, legally binding form of union recognition that cannot simply be removed by the company read more
Shell Bacton Gas Terminal workers begin strike action (20 Oct) – Altrad workers at the Shell Bacton Gas Terminal have today [20 October] started their strike in a row over pay. The strike ballot, held by GMB Union, saw 100 per cent of members backing strike action on a 96 per cent turnout. The dispute was triggered by Altrad’s offer of a one-time 4 per cent pay uplift, which is far below the two-year deal of 11.3 per cent and 5.5 per cent proposed under the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI). Altrad workers on the Perenco contract at an adjacent site doing the same type of work are being paid in line with the NAECI increase following another dispute resolved by GMB. This means workers at Shell site are now being paid less than their peers for the same work. Strikes will take place over three weeks in total, on 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th October, and 3rd and 4th November 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
Protecting women and girls from violence needs proper funding (18 Dec) – Effective action is long overdue. Commenting on the publication today (Thursday) of the government’s violence against women and girls strategy, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “No woman should have to endure verbal abuse, sexual assault, stalking or any kind of misogyny. This abuse has a lasting effect on women, their families and colleagues…” read more
Care workers lobby Parliament (17 Dec) – Hundreds of overseas staff working in social care and the NHS travelled to Westminster today to lobby MPs over plans to restrict visa rules for care workers read more
UNISON takes its ‘We are police staff’ campaign to Parliament (17 Dec) – Members from 25 UNISON police branches joined the lobby of police minister read more
Hospital staff in Leeds to strike this week in back pay row (15 Dec) – NHS staff who work in operating theatres in hospitals across Leeds are to strike for two days later this week in a dispute over money they are owed. Theatre assistants employed across four hospital sites run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust* will walk out at 8am on Thursday (18 December) for 48 hours. The workers perform tasks such as inserting cannulas, collecting samples, and sterilising equipment, which the union says should have been paid at a higher rate. UNISON says staff should be moved to the correct grade and compensated fairly for the extra duties they’ve already carried out. Earlier this year, trust interim chief executive Brendan Brown oversaw a deal at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust that saw staff given five years’ back pay. UNISON says the Leeds trust’s refusal to settle up is out of step with what is happening elsewhere in the region and around the country. Since 2021, more than 40,000 healthcare workers have been regraded and awarded back pay through deals with the union at over 60 NHS trusts across England and Wales read more
Senior Wakefield politicians call for mining museum trustees to quit over failure to end strikes (9 Dec) – Two senior political figures in Wakefield have called for the board of trustees at the National Coal Mining Museum to resign for their failure to resolve a long-running strike. The leader of Wakefield Council Denise Jeffery and Normanton and Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett made the calls at a rally on Saturday in support of more than 40 museum workers, who have been on strike since August. Since staff walked out in the summer, museum managers have put forward just one pay offer, which for many workers was worse than a proposal they’d rejected before the strike began. A petition calling for the resignation of the board of trustees and chief executive Lynn Dunning has more than 3,000 signatures. Both local politicians have already shown support for striking workers, with Denise Jeffery resigning as a museum patron last month and Jon Trickett raising the issue in Parliament read more
Stop the Council Cuts – Sign the petition: Save our Services – Nottingham City Unison
Sign open letter: Reinstate Tom Barker, UNISON rep at Ash Field Academy in Leicester
(Hosted by Leicester and District Trades Union Council).
To Paul Stone, Discovery Schools Academy Trust (DSAT)
Leader, and Richard Bettsworth, Chair of DSAT Trustees.
On October 20 2025, UNISON members at Ash Field Academy, a
special educational needs school in Leicester, voted to take industrial action
over inadequate staffing levels, excessive workload, and health and safety.
Staffing levels at Ash Field, which was taken over by Discovery Schools Academy
Trust (DSAT) in 2024, have been diminishing over the last year as DSAT sought
to make savings.Combined with a redundancy consultation that took place
shortly before the 2025 Summer break, this led to the loss of approximately 10%
of the school’s workforce, mostly from frontline workers. These cuts have
greatly increased the workload of the remaining staff, stretching them to the
point that their health and safety is at risk. The union, which represents around 100 members at the school, completed a formal industrial action ballot on October 20. 86% of members voted in favour of strike action, on a turnout of 60%.
Just three working days after the result of this ballot, UNISON’s lead steward at the school, Tom Barker, was suspended from his duties. Tom was given no prior warning of a complaint and was escorted from the
premises. This is a disgraceful act of trade union victimisation and
potentially places DSAT outside the relevant employment laws. Tom’s suspension
is a direct attempt to silence union members and victimise their rep who also
now sits on the UNISON’s National Executive Council (NEC) SIGN HERE
NHS staff need pay talks now, says UNISON (2 Dec) – Direct talks are the way to fix pay and avoid falling foul of minimum wage laws. The government must hold urgent talks with health unions to fix the NHS pay structure once and for all to avoid staff falling below the legal minimum wage each year, says UNISON today (Tuesday). Without action, tens of thousands of employees on the lowest wage bands will once again drop beneath the statutory minimum level when it rises by 50p an hour to £12.71 from April 2026. That’s also the date all NHS staff are due their annual pay rise. But UNISON says delays and a failure to tackle low earnings properly mean the government risks having to resort to a temporary top-up to avoid falling foul of the law read more
Council and school staff need a fair pay rise, say unions (1 Dec) – Failure to deliver a meaningful pay rise will make recruitment and retention problems worse. Unions representing 1.4 million council and school staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are calling for a wage rise of at least £3,000 to recognise soaring workloads and increasing household costs, they say today (Monday). UNISON, GMB and Unite have submitted their joint annual local government pay claim for 2026-27, demanding a substantial award from April after years of effective pay cuts, which have left staff struggling to keep up with rising household bills. The unions are warning pay for council and school staff continues to lag behind many other public services read more
Three branches, one message: UNISON rejects below-inflation pay offer (21 Nov) – The offer was made five months after unions submitted a pay claim and three months after the pay rise was due. UNISON members holding signs on their picket line reading ‘no pay, no way’ and ‘fair pay now’. UNISON members across three transport employers have balloted for strike action, following a pay offer of just 3.2%. These workers include engineers, admin staff, project managers, transport planners, IT & environmental specialists, to name a few. They are essential operational support staff who keep bus, tram, rail and wider transport services running safely and efficiently. Their work ensures that thousands of passengers can rely on accessible, coordinated, and secure public transport every day – making them some of the most vital workers in the transport system. The 3.2% offer was made five months after unions submitted a pay claim and three months after the pay rise was due. It was rejected by a large majority. UNISON says that these frontline workers – already on low wages – continue to face rising living costs without a pay increase that reflects the value of their work or the financial pressures they experience…The Transport for Greater Manchester branch has taken full strike action on 30 Oct, 5 Nov, 7 Nov, 12 Nov and 14 November and is currently undertaking action short of strike from 15–24 November. It also has action planned for 25-28 November inclusive. The West Midlands Combined Authority branch took strike action on 14 November and began action short of strike on 15 November. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority strike dates are to be announced soon. All branches are currently planning additional industrial action dates, including further days of full strike action. If anyone would like to send a message of support to those on strike, please use the branch email addresses:-
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority & Transport branch: [email protected]
- West Midlands Combined Authority: [email protected]
- Transport for Greater Manchester: [email protected] read more
Support Camden Unison school support staff members at Richard Cobden school for fair pay and safe staffing levels Camden New Journal: School strike over cuts to support staff
NIPSA
Real Living Wage: Poverty Pay Must End (19 Dec) – NIPSA and other health unions met this week with management to discuss the outworkings of the Health Minister’s recent letter regarding pay in the Health and Social Care sector; specifically in relation to the roadmap for implementing the real living wage as a minimum rate of pay for staff in this area. NIPSA left this meeting with some cautious optimism that the real living wage can be achieved in the coming financial year. However, it is clear that a great deal of work still needs to be done. This includes receiving written proposals from management outlining how implementation will be achieved, the associated costings and, most importantly, a clear and credible timeframe. NIPSA cannot allow yet another financial year to begin with the lowest-paid members relying on compliance payments to bring them up to the minimum wage. No one can reasonably argue that it is acceptable for Agenda for Change pay scales in Northern Ireland to include pay points below the minimum wage. Yet, if no action is taken, that is exactly the position we will be in on 1 April 2026 read more
PSNI Data Breach Payouts (18 Dec) – Responding to the article posted on the BBC NI website Stormont: Almost £120m set aside for PSNI data breach payouts – BBC News read more
Education Workers Take Action Against Education Cuts And School Meals Price Increase (1 Dec) – The joint trade unions (UNISON, NIPSA, Unite, GMB), representing support staff in education are urging the public to join a protest against proposed education cuts and the Education Authority’s proposal to increase the price of school meals on Wednesday, 3rd December at 12:30 PM on the steps of Stormont. Due to insufficient budgets and chronic underfunding, proposals have been made to cut services and increase fees across the education sector. One such proposal includes raising the cost of school meals by 50p. These measures unfairly place the burden of underfunding on children, education staff, parents, and families—while failing to address the root cause: a fundamental budget shortfall read more
Royal College of Nursing
Clearer pay band progression and nursing responsibility recognised in handbook update (5 Jan) – Following RCN campaigning, a change to the NHS national terms and conditions handbook reflects the accountability nurses take on early in their careers read more
Nursing left behind on pay progression, RCN report warns (18 Dec) – A lack of consistent career development in nursing is costing lives, money and the future of nursing read more
RCN opens donations to strike fund in response to public desire to support striking staff – We’ve launched a donation page for people to financially help nursing staff on strike read more
RCM
RCM highlights midwives are ‘exhausted, overstretched and burnt out’ (16 Dec) – Commenting on a campaign to reduce midwives’ working hours, Gill Walton, Chief Executive of the RCM, said: “Midwives and maternity support workers are facing extreme pressures and as this campaign highlights, they are exhausted, overstretched and working in unsustainable conditions read more
CSP
Major breakthrough on safe staffing levels for AHPs (15 Dec) – CSP are urging members to contribute to a review that will shape new allied health professionals (AHP) safe staffing guidance in England- a key non-pay win secured after the 2023 CSP strike read more
SOR
SoR urges members to respond to government consultation on ‘earned settlement’ for migrants (22 Dec) – The government has proposed reforms to the settlement status of migrants, prompting the SoR to reach out to members read more
Members in Northern Ireland asked to contribute to 2025/26 pay award consultation (15 Dec) – With assurance from the Northern Ireland Minister of Health regarding pay parity in AfC banding, the updated award will now be prepared. A consultation for members of the SoR in Northern Ireland has opened, inviting radiographers in the region to participate in the 2025/26 pay award consultation. Opened on Wednesday 10 December, the consultation will run until midnight on Sunday 4 January, giving members a chance to confirm whether or not they accept the pay award, as recommended by the Pay Review Body, of 3.6 per cent for 2025/26. If not accepted, members will be asked if they are willing to undertake industrial action read more
BMA
Resident doctors in Scotland plan strike unless pay offer improved (19 Dec) – More than 92 per cent of those who voted in a BMA Scotland ballot in favour of strike action, on a turnout of 58 per cent read more
Resident doctors reject offer (15 Dec) – Government revised proposal to avert strike knocked back via indicative vote. Strike action for resident doctors in England will go ahead this week after doctors resoundingly rejected a recently revised offer put forward by the Government. Resident doctors across England will stage another full five-day walk out from this Wednesday following a vote on whether to delay action in light of the new terms put forward by the Department of Health. The indicative poll, which closed today and saw a turnout of 65 per cent, saw 83 per cent of doctors vote to continue industrial action. The vote was called following the Government’s announcement last week of a new offer on measures aimed at addressing the unemployment crisis among resident doctors. Measures included increasing the number of new specialty training posts from 1,000 to 4,000 over the next three years, as well as a pledge to bring forward emergency legislation in the New Year to prioritise UK medical graduates for these posts. BMA resident doctors committee chair Jack Fletcher said the results of the indicative poll clearly demonstrated the Government’s proposals had simply not gone far enough to address doctors’ concerns with the job crisis read more
NEU
An “absolute waste of time” – Reception teachers say baseline must go (12 Dec) – The National Education Union (NEU) has surveyed 970 reception teacher members for their views on Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA), including on the recent change to digitise the test. Their views are startlingly clear – the RBA is inaccurate, a waste of resources and does not support the best start in life for children read more
NEU members at Ysgol Gymraeg Mornant agree to postpone industrial action to allow for talks with the employer (2 Dec) – NEU Members at Ysgol Gymraeg Mornant have agreed to postpone the strike days announced last week to allow for talks with the employer. The mandate for strike action is valid until May 2026 therefore new dates could be issued in the future should talks fail read more
NASUWT
Culture of violence and intimidation prompts teacher strikes at two primary schools (5 Jan) – Teachers at Lily Lane Primary School in Manchester and Ravensfield Primary School in Tameside – part of Changing Lives in Collaboration (CLiC) Trust – will begin strike action on Tuesday 6th January. Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at both schools report that pupil-on-teacher and pupil-on pupil-assaults have grown to untenable levels, and that leaders are refusing to acknowledge or resolve urgent issues around health and safety, safeguarding, or staff safety and wellbeing. In some cases, the schools’ culture of violence is causing pupils to be fearful of attending school read more
Further strike action at Kettering school over inadequate management (15 Dec) – Members of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union at Meadowside Primary School in Kettering will be taking further strike action on 15th and 16th December over adverse management practices which are affecting teachers’ health and working conditions. NASUWT teachers at Meadowside took a day of strike action on 4th November, but agreed to withdraw a further five days of planned strike action as a gesture of goodwill after the employer offered further talks. However, since then the school management has failed to put in place any effective measures to address the issues of excessive workload, a lack of transparency and effective communication and lack of career progression. As a result, further strike action has become necessary read more
Hexham teachers strike over failure to address behaviour management (8 Dec) – Members of NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Haydon Bridge High School in Hexham will be taking the first of five planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over the failure of school management to put in place an effective pupil behaviour management system. NASUWT withdrew the first two days of planned strike action on the 19th and 25th November as a gesture of goodwill after management agreed to act to address members’ concerns about a lack of action to deal with poor pupil behaviour. However, no effective actions have subsequently been put in place by school management, leaving NASUWT with no choice than to reinstate strike action read more
Ballot opens over Scottish class contact time dispute (19 Nov) – The Scottish Government is facing avoidable industrial action disruption in the new year unless it agrees to act with urgency to address teachers’ workloads, NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union has warned. The Union is opening its ballot of members in Scotland today (Wednesday) over class contact time. NASUWT teachers are being balloted for both strike action and action short of strike action over the Scottish Government’s failure to make significant progress on its manifesto commitment to reduce teachers’ maximum class contact time from 22.5 to 21 hours per week. The ballot will close on Wednesday 14th January read more
EIS
Will the Scottish Government Reach an Epiphany on its Teacher Workload Promises? (5 Jan) – With the dawning of the year 2026, it is now five years since the Scottish Government made its 2021 Manifesto promise to tackle excessive levels of teacher workload by employing 3,500 additional teachers and reducing teachers’ maximum class contact time commitment to 21 hours per week. With the next Scottish Parliament election now less than six months away, little to no tangible progress has been made towards the delivery of these promises made by the Scottish Government. Scotland’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), is currently running a statutory industrial action ballot of its members over the non-delivery of the promised actions to address teacher workload. The ballot closes next week read more
Pensions strike action to continue at Craigclowan school as hypocrisy over senior staff pension provision is revealed (22 Dec) – Members of the EIS at Craigclowan School near Perth will take six further days of strike action in January, as a dispute over cuts to the staff pension scheme continues. The strike action is in opposition to the school’s use of ‘fire and rehire’ to force staff out of the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme (STPS) and into a worse scheme that will cost less for the school. The School pays its teaching staff considerably less than staff in state schools – around 15% less as of December 2025. The teachers work tirelessly for the School and have been reluctant to strike. Ultimately, the school’s decision to cut its employer pension contributions from 26% to 14% meant that many staff felt that they had no choice but to defend their financial security read more
EIS urges teachers to ‘wrap-up’ their vote in workload ballot this festive season (22 Dec) – The EIS has urged Scotland’s teachers to ensure they ‘wrap-up’ their vote in a statutory industrial action ballot on teacher workload during the festive season. The EIS industrial action ballot is currently underway and closes in the New Year, and teachers are being urged to use their vote now to ensure that their voice is
heard. The EIS is urging teachers to vote ‘Yes’ to both strike action and Action Short of Strike (ASOS) read more
EIS opens formal ballot for industrial action at Lenzie Academy over serious Health & Safety concerns (15 Dec) – Following an overwhelming indicative ballot result at Lenzie Academy—where 95% of EIS members voted in favour of industrial action—the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has now opened a statutory ballot for industrial action. The formal ballot opened last week and will close on Friday, 30 January. If the employer, East Dunbartonshire Council, fails to address the serious health and safety concerns raised by staff, EIS members have indicated a willingness to take strike action, with strike dates to be confirmed following the formal ballot process. EIS members have repeatedly raised urgent concerns about the safety of the school environment read more
UCU
UCU Stop the Cuts campaign
Sign petition against the education cuts
New Year strike ballots at four Scottish universities (5 Jan) – Strike ballots over job losses and the possible use of compulsory redundancies begin today (Monday) at four Scottish universities. The strike ballots will take place at Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Stirling and Strathclyde universities where members of the University and College Union (UCU) Scotland are being asked if they are willing to take strike action. As well as strike action, members are also being asked if they are willing to take action short of strike which can include actions such as working to contract; refusing to cover for absent colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities; and marking and assessment boycotts. The ballots at the four universities leave open the possibility of strikes and disruption on university campuses as universities enter their busy Spring terms when much of the teaching, examination and marking of students’ work takes place. If members vote for strike action, they will join UCU members at the University of Dundee where members have been taking strike action last year in a long running dispute over cuts and job losses. A dispute at the University of the Highlands and Islands was resolved before Christmas and significant progress was made at Edinburgh in a dispute there over job cuts. In the event of ‘yes’ votes in the four separate ballots, it will then be up to members to decide what action to take and how to pursue the dispute against their employer. The disputes share a common cause of principals seeking to make cuts and refusing to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies read more
University of Sheffield International College staff to strike over pay and conditions (23 Dec) – Staff at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions, the University and College Union (UCU) announced today. In the ballot, 90% of those that took part voted for strike action, with 100% backing action short of a strike (ASOS). The turnout was 61% read more
UCU statement on hunger strikers (19 Dec) – On Wednesday 17 December, after an agonising wait of 15 hours, Palestinian Action protester Qesser Zuhrah was eventually allowed access to hospital medical treatment, on the 46th day of her hunger strike read more
Strike ballot opens at University of Essex in fight to save campus & jobs (15 Dec) – Staff at the University of Essex are being asked to back strike action over plans to close the university’s Southend campus and axe 400 jobs. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will vote in the ballot, which opens today (Monday) and runs until Monday, 19 January, paving the way for potential strike action as soon as February. The university wrote to all 2,974 members of staff last week (Thursday 11 December), just as they were breaking up for the Christmas holidays, to tell them they were at risk of redundancy. Management intends to axe 200 academic staff and 200 professional services staff, meaning more than one in 10 of the workforce would lose their job. It wants to issue redundancy notices by May and mothball the Southend campus over the summer read more
Huge strike vote at Southampton Solent over brutal fire & rehire pension attack (15 Dec) – UCU members at Southampton Solent University have voted to strike after management forced hundreds of staff out of their preferred pension scheme and onto new contracts all while threatening to sack those who refused to be moved, the University and College Union (UCU) announced today. An overwhelming 93% of staff who voted backed strike action on a turnout of 72%, paving the way for disruption in the new year if management refuses to change course. Last Thursday (11 December), Solent moved 286 staff off of the university’s books and into a subsidiary company, Solent University Services Ltd (SUSL), forcing them out of the industry standard Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and onto a scheme that allows Solent to get away with paying less into staff pensions, leaving them poorer. The preceding day (Wednesday 10 December), university management told the 286 staff to email HR by “close of business” if they “object to the transfer” and their employment would then cease immediately read more
UCU Strike at Capital City College – Capital City College Group were on strike Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 December. Support the strike, donate to the Crowdfunder: https://gofund.me/6c0d0eea7
Strike ballot launched at Northumbria University in pay and pensions row (5 Dec) – Staff at Northumbria University will be balloted for strike action in their fight against plans to pressure them to leave the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. The industrial action ballot will open on Monday 15 December and will close on Friday 23 January, with potential action in the new year when teaching takes place. It comes after UCU members overwhelmingly passed a motion of no confidence in the university executive team, including the vice-chancellor, in a packed branch meeting last month read more
England wide strike action to hit 32 colleges in January over fight for fair pay (28 Nov) – Staff at 32 colleges across England are set to down tools for three days in January over low pay and poor working conditions. UCU members at all 32 colleges will strike on Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 January, disrupting the start of spring term, if college bosses refuse to come back to the table with a fair pay offer. The strike comes after an overwhelming 91% of staff across the 32 colleges who voted backed downing tools in a ballot with an aggregate turnout of 60%. A further 18 colleges were also balloted but have avoided strike action after UCU members voted to settle their disputes due to winning pay awards worth up to 8.7%. UCU – alongside its sister unions NEU, GMB, UNISON and Unite – is calling for a New Deal for FE, including pay parity with schoolteachers, national workload agreements and a binding national bargaining framework. Employer body, the Association of Colleges (AoC), has recommended a pay uplift of 4%, but colleges do not have to follow the AoC recommendation, and many have failed to do so in previous pay rounds. The average college teacher earns £9,000 less than their counterpart does in schools read more
4 days of strikes begin tomorrow at Imperial College London over real terms pay cuts (24 Nov) – Imperial College London staff will down tools tomorrow in a fight for a fair pay award, the University and College Union (UCU) confirmed today. Management misled staff over benchmarking used to justify pay levels whilst pushing ahead with £2bn of capital spending. Management offered more leave on full pay to fathers’ than to mothers, then took back the additional leave out of shared parental leave. Further strike action called for 1 – 12 December if management refuses to return to negotiations. The full strike days this week are from Tuesday 25 – Friday 28 November and pickets will take place on each day of the action at the South Kensington and White City campuses from 8.30am until 10.30am. If management continues to refuse to make a fair offer, the union has also called strike action on the following dates: Monday 1 – Friday 5 December; Monday 8 – Friday 12 December. UCU members have already taken six days of strike action this term over management’s refusal to increase its below-inflation 2% pay award, an offer that was rejected overwhelmingly by members of all three recognised unions (UCU, Unison and Unite) read more
University of Sheffield staff to strike from this week in job cuts row (18 Nov) – Staff at the University of Sheffield began 14 days of strike action on Monday 17 November, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced. The full UCU strike dates are:-
- Monday 17, Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19, and Friday 21 November
- Monday 24 to Thursday 27 November
- Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 4 and Friday 5 December
- Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 December
Pickets will take place at locations across the university on each morning of action, with the main picket at the Firth Court section of the Western Bank campus, where the vice-chancellor’s office is based read more
Edinburgh University three-day strike over cuts, ongoing job losses and threat of compulsory redundancies (17 Nov) – University and College Union (UCU) Scotland members at the University of Edinburgh today (Monday) begin three days of strike action in a dispute over £140million cuts and job losses, including the possible use of compulsory redundancies. As well as striking today, UCU members will also be on strike on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 November. Future action could also see a marking and assessment boycott which would see members refuse to take part in marking and assessment duties, including work such as exam invigilation and the processing of marks, and would be an escalation of this dispute read more
University of Derby staff vote for strike action over threat of compulsory redundancies and course closures (13 Nov) – Staff at the University of Derby have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over potential compulsory redundancies and course closures, UCU announced today. In the ballot, 82% of those that took part voted for strike action, with 93% backing action short of a strike (ASOS), on a 66% turnout. The dispute centres on the university’s refusal to rule out compulsory job losses and course closures for the 2025/26 academic year. This comes after two previous rounds of redundancies, which have already targeted research and managerial positions. Despite repeated attempts by the UCU branch to engage in constructive negotiations, senior management has refused to provide assurances that there will be no further job cuts. The union said the threat of redundancies is unjustified, particularly given the university’s significant recent spending, including £75 million on the Cavendish Building project. The union also said the dispute could be resolved immediately if the vice-chancellor and senior leadership commit to no compulsory redundancies and no course closures read more
Strike dates set at Dundee University in long running dispute as employer announces further job cuts (3 Nov) – UCU members at the Dundee University will take five days of strike action next week beginning on Monday 10 November. As well as Monday, staff will also be striking during the rest of the week on Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 November 2025. UCU members will also take part in action short of strike which will involve staff taking actions including working to contract, not covering for colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities at the university. The strike follows a re-ballot where 72% of those who voted backed strike action on a turnout 58% read more
UCU fighting fund: the link is here and donations to the fund are spent on supporting members involved in important disputes.
FBU
Starmer must defy Lords and deliver Employment Rights Bill before Christmas, says union leader (11 Dec) – The House of Lords once again voted to block parts of the Employment Rights Bill last night. Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: “For 14 years, the Tories hammered the living standards of working people. They are now using the unelected Lords to continue that policy. This is a disgraceful attempt to subvert democracy. The Employment Rights Bill was a clear manifesto commitment, and the electorate has backed it. The Labour government cannot allow the Tories to use their inbuilt majority in the Lords to deny workers protection against unfair dismissal and zero-hour contracts. There must be no more watering-down of the Bill. Keir Starmer must prioritise the urgent delivery of the legislation – and get it passed before the Christmas recess. If that means MPs must sit on a Saturday, as the Commons did during Brexit, then so be it.” Read more
FBU says industrial action on cards after Oxfordshire council pushes cuts consultation (9 Dec) – Around one hundred firefighters gathered at a rally outside Oxfordshire County Hall today, calling on the county council to drop plans to cut the fire and rescue service. Firefighters travelled from across the county to attend. Speaking at the rally, FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: “These proposals will not only affect firefighter safety, it will affect the communities that we’re here to protect. It is outrageous that they are now trying to close fire stations, limit the number of firefighters on the back of fire engines… We know that in Oxfordshire we take 2 minutes longer than the national average to arrive at incidents. Every second counts, and when we turn up delayed because of these decisions, firefighters and the public’s lives will be on the line.” The Fire Brigades Union has described plans to close five fire stations and remove six fire engines across Oxfordshire as putting residents across the county at risk. The council responded to today’s rally by confirming that a public consultation on the cuts will continue. The FBU says that firefighters are exploring the option of balloting for industrial action read more
Sign this petition: To Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Authority and Chief Fire Officer – STOP, THINK & REASSESS Dangerous Cuts to Firefighter Numbers
POA
NEC minutes December 2025 read more
General Secretary update read more
National Chair update Dec 2025 read here
POA secure exemption for overseas recruits (19 Dec) – Since changes to the salary thresholds were introduced in July 2025 by the Government the Prison Service stood to lose over 2500 overseas recruits, mainly from Nigeria and Ghana. The loss of so many frontline Prison Officers would have had a catastrophic effect on prison stability read more
Temporary exemption to certain aspects of the immigration rules (19 Dec) – From Steve Gillan POA General Secretary: The POA have worked tirelessly behind the scenes after the new immigration rules were enacted in July 2025. We have been in dialogue consistently with senior officials of HMPPS and senior politicians about the devastating effects of the existing immigration rules on prisons in England and Wales. I am delighted to announce that once again HMPPS senior officials and senior politicians have listened to the POA read more
NAPO
Probation pay update (28 Nov) – We have previously advised our members in the Probation Service, that it’s now nearly 12 months since the joint probation unions submitted our pay claim for 2025 and eight months since the 2025 pay rise was due on 1 April. As we approach the start of December, there is still no news from HMPPS as to when we will see a pay offer. It goes without saying that this delay is completely unacceptable and the inertia from the employer and government is a disgrace. While we are well aware that in the normal course of events the civil service is much slower than other public sector employers when it comes to making pay offers, the unions have not been able to get any answers as to why it is taking HMPPS so long to get approval from the Treasury to make a pay offer for this year. We know that HMPPS is making a special case for a pay offer above the government’s normal limit for 2025, but we were told this back in the summer. So why the ongoing delay? Napo, UNISON and GMB met with the new Lord Chancellor David Lammy on 17th November and strongly pressed him on when our members could expect a pay offer. David Lammy continually stressed that he was doing everything he could to speed up the process and hoped to be able to see an offer appear before Christmas. Napo ready to ballot members – Depending on the scope of the offer when it arrives, and the determination by Napo’s Probation Negotiating Committee, Napo is obviously committed to ensuring that our members have their say via a ballot. Obviously, the onset of the Christmas holiday presents logistical challenges in this regard, and we have factored this into our planning. The primary objective is to secure maximum turnout from our membership to provide us with a mandate for our next steps, so we will need to give careful consideration as to the timetable to enable a ballot to take place which meets our members best interests read more
BFAWU
Winter Foodworker 2025 read more
Support the campaign to unionise Samworth Brothers – get organised, sign the petition read more
Food Workers dreading Winter, Feeling Cold and Insecure about food & Don’t have enough for Christmas Finds New Cost of Living report from BFAWU (20 Dec) – A new report into the cost of living pressures facing their members has been published by the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) and it makes for grim reading according to their General Secretary Sarah Woolley read more
BFAWU Response to Parliament passing through the Employment Rights Bill yesterday (17 Dec) – The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union welcomes yesterday’s announcement of the Employment Rights Bill as an important step forward for working people and a recognition that the balance of power in the workplace must shift back towards workers and their trade unions. After years of deregulation, insecurity and attacks on organised labour, it is right that a Labour government has begun the process of strengthening employment protections. Many of the measures outlined reflect long-standing demands raised by the BFAWU and the trade union movement and represent real progress for our members across the food, manufacturing and allied sectors. However, while we recognise the progress made in improving workers’ rights, we are clear that this Bill does not go far enough. For too many workers, insecurity, exploitation and low pay remain entrenched. Yesterday must be seen as the beginning, not the end, of a program of reform. BFAWU believes there is an urgent need for a Employment Rights Bill #2 one that strengthens the rights of all workers and tackles the structural failings of the UK labour market read more
Nautilus International
Maritime workers secure major win as Employment Rights Bill becomes law (18 Dec) – Nautilus International has hailed the passage of the UK Employment Rights Bill as a landmark victory for seafarers, following years of campaigning in the aftermath of the P&O Ferries scandal. The legislation, which has now cleared Parliament and therefore become an Act, includes several hard-won protections for maritime workers that the union has fought tirelessly to secure – most significantly, the introduction of a mandatory Seafarers’ Charter read more
MCA clarifies approach to new IMO anti-violence and harassment training rules (17 Dec) – The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has clarified how new international requirements on preventing violence and harassment at sea will be implemented in the UK, following the adoption of IMO Resolution MSC.560(108) read more
Lloyd’s Register threatens employees with 75% salary cut if they join industrial action (11 Dec) – Industrial action at Lloyd’s Register by members of Nautilus International is likely to escalate due to the intimidating way management is behaving towards its employees – including unprecedented threats to cut their pay by 75% if they participate in the action. Employees of Lloyd’s Register in the Netherlands began industrial action against their employer on 1 December 2025. The classification society’s management is refusing to give employees a fair wage rise that compensates for inflation, despite paying themselves a 20% bonus after the company registered significant profits read more
NUJ
NUJ members at STV to hold one-day strike in New Year over cuts (23 Dec) – Staff at STV News are to hold a one-day strike on 7 January over compulsory redundancies and the broadcaster’s plans to axe the north edition of its News at 6 programme read more
NUJ labels Malcolm Denmark a ‘Scrooge’ over pay award refusal (22 Dec) – The NUJ has branded Iconic Media CEO Malcolm Denmark a “Scrooge” over his broken promises to National World staff to make a pay award for 2025, and has accused him of ripping up recognition agreements with the NUJ across the business read more
NUJ calls for independent inquiry into alleged violations of BBC editorial independence (19 Dec) – NUJ reps at the BBC have voted in support of an independent inquiry into “any allegations of inappropriate interference by board members in editorial matters.” This comes after last month’s Culture Media and Sport Committee hearing where Sir Robbie Gibb, BBC non-executive director, stated that he has become involved in editorial matters read more
BEAU statement on BBC Charter Review launch (18 Dec) – The NUJ has joined sister unions in writing to UK culture minister Lisa Nandy to reiterate the key principles that must underpin the BBC Charter Review process following the publication of the government’s green paper on 16 December read more
Equity
Film & TV performers say they would be prepared to take industrial action over AI in LANDSLIDE 99% vote (18 Dec) – Results of Equity’s indicative ballot on AI protections for performers announced read more
Workforce again shut out of the Creative Industries Council (17 Dec) – Lack of worker representation on the government advisory body, is a “damaging snub” to creative professionals, says Equity read more
Unions write to Culture Secretary with BBC Charter demands (16 Dec) – The unions said the Charter “represents an invaluable opportunity to address issues” at the public service broadcaster read more
Government out of step with majority on AI, says Equity (16 Dec) – The government must listen to the creative industries over AI, says Equity, as consultation results show 95% favour AI and copyright protections read more
Musicians Union
MU Urges Government to Back Musicians on AI (16 Dec) – The MU is urging the Government to drop its original AI proposal after the interim consultation response revealed overwhelming opposition. With only 3% of respondents backing the preferred option, ministers must now deliver robust regulation to protect musicians’ rights read more
MU Backs Petition to Stop Closure of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Music Department (12 Dec) – The MU is supporting members who have raised concerns and is currently involved in consultation with the RSC read more
USDAW
Tetrosyl strikes: Usdaw brands the employer a Grinch who is trying to steal Christmas from staff (22 Dec) – Usdaw, the trade union for staff working at car care products manufacturer Tetrosyl and Tetrosyl Express, has condemned management for their use of dirty tricks in response to industrial action, which includes an unfair dismissal, unlawfully using agency staff to break the strike and refusing to recognise Usdaw or engage in talks to reach a resolution to the dispute. Usdaw announced a further strike date between 6am and 9.59pm on Friday 2 January 2026. Usdaw members voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action in a dispute over the company’s use of ‘fire and hire’ to reduce terms and conditions for staff at their Rochdale site. Four stoppages took place in December on Monday 15th, Wednesday 17th, Friday 19th and from 2pm today (Monday 22nd) read more
UVW
UVW wins major victory for housekeepers at Radisson Blu Euston Square Hotel (19 Dec) – United Voices of the World (UVW) union has secured a landmark victory for housekeepers at the Radisson Blu Euston Square hotel in central London, marking a major step forward for workers’ rights in the capital’s notoriously exploitative and under-unionised hotel sector read more
Christmas strikes to hit West End Quay after luxury flats bosses enforce “Scrooge-style” pay freeze (10 Dec) – “None of us wants to spend Christmas on strike, but management has left us no choice. They froze our pay; they denied all the staff a pay rise for this year and walked back agreements we had reached, and even brought in agency staff during our strikes at a cost far higher than what we earn. We’ve even faced surveillance, yet all we’re asking for is the pay rise we had previously agreed to — one they had previously confirmed was affordable” – Francesco Lombardo, concierge and UVW member. UVW cleaner and concierge members at the luxury flat complex in Paddington, central London, where properties sell for millions- say they have been left with no choice but to take further action this Christmas, yet again. The new 12-day walkout, from 29th December till 2nd January, will mark the third strike in 2025 (and fifth overall at WEQ) in an escalating industrial dispute that has defined the entire year at WEQ. Bosses reneged on an ACAS-brokered agreement and imposed a year-long pay freeze on low-paid, non-managerial staff only. For the workers, who are overwhelmingly migrant and Black and brown, the bosses seem to be behaving like “the ultimate Scrooges”, squeezing the lowest-paid while some are believed to pocket eye-watering six-figure salaries read more
Solidarity Financial Appeal: UVW’s office was targeted in a break-in! – in January, 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 Issues Legal Claims Against Rockstar Over Unfair Dismissal of Staff (12 Nov) – The IWGB has issued claims against Rockstar Games for unfairly dismissing staff for union activity and blacklisting its members. This legal claim comes shortly after the announcement of the delay of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to break records in sales upon its scheduled release in November 2026. The union believes that these dismissals amount to victimisation and collective dismissal linked to trade union activity. So far Rockstar has declined to meet with the IWGB, leading the union and barristers to issue formal legal claims on behalf of the Claimants read more
UCL Cleaners – Stop the Cuts! – In August 2025, UCL and Sodexo announced plans to make dramatic cuts to cleaning services at UCL and across students’ halls of residence. UCL say that these redundancies are part of a modernisation and cost-cutting agenda. At the same time, the university is in a very strong financial position, with student numbers up from 38,000 in 2015/16 to 52,000 last year. These changes come after cleaners have reported long standing issues with overwork, unsafe conditions and precarious contracts read more. More info on IWGB Facebook page
Mandate (Ireland)
Mandate Says Dunnes Stores’ 3% Pay Increase Is “Simply Not Good Enough” (16 Dec) – Mandate Trade Union has criticised Dunnes Stores’ announcement of a 3% pay increase, stating that it fails to keep pace with inflation, falls below trade union pay guidance, and does not address the wider issues facing Dunnes workers. The union was also highly critical of Dunnes Stores’ refusal to pay workers for maternity and paternity leave. Workers across Ireland continue to experience significant cost-of-living pressures, with rising prices for essentials such as food, energy, housing and childcare placing ongoing strain on household budgets. Against this backdrop, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has recommended private sector pay increases in the range of 4% to 7% to prevent workers from experiencing a real-terms cut in pay. Mandate says Dunnes Stores’ decision to limit the increase to 3% leaves many workers worse off in real termsread more
SIPTU (Ireland)
SIPTU Caredoc members defer industrial action to consider pay proposals (24 Dec) read more
Carroll’s Cuisine strike action suspended as management agree to talks (27 Nov) – Strike action at Carroll’s Cuisine in Tullamore, County Offaly, has been suspended following management’s agreement to enter negotiations with union representatives this week. These talks aim to secure a collective agreement that will deliver improvements in pay and conditions for workers at the meat-processing plant read more
Why 2026 Matters – Public Sector Pay Talks (12 Dec) – Preparing for 2026: Strengthening Our Voice, Building Our Power. SIPTU represents over 75,000 public service workers across the health service, public administration, local authorities, community and education sector read more
Sign this petition: Take Action for Workers’ Rights!
Other news
Townsend Theatre Productions presents: WE ARE THE LIONS, MR MANAGER!
– the story of Jayaben Desai and the Grunwick Strike
Written by Neil Gore Directed by Louise Townsend
We Are The Lions Mr Manager!” is the story of the Great Grunwick Film Processing Factory Strike of 1976-8, and the inspirational strike-leader Jayaben Desai, one of many newly arrived Gujarati women workers from East Africa.
Grunwick wasn’t a strike about wages – it was about something much more important than that: it was about dignity. Dignity at work. And, for the small band of Asian women strikers, who braved the sun, rain, and snow month-in and month-out on the picket lines, from August 1976 to July 1978, rights in the workplace and pride at work were far more important than any amount of money
- Tour dates and tickets here. Tickets: £15 and £7.50 concessions
General Strike Centenary & The Cramlington Train Wreckers 2026 – As you know, next year is a hugely important year for working history (centenary of the General Strike) .Following the success of The Cramlington Train Wreckers last November (4,000 people attended 7 venues) it is transferring to the 1200-seat Newcastle Theatre Royal next July. We are looking to touring it next year but would like feedback from unions re support. Can you circulate it among your affiliates, please? We also have an event at Glasshouse in May to mark the first full day of the centenary of the General Strike.
We are using both events to encourage a new layer of (young) trade union activists. It is an opportunity to draw in people We had a tremendous intervention in at Durham Miners’ Gala over the weekend. Any support would be appreciated.
The Cramlington Train Wreckers is transferring to Newcastle Theatre Royal after a sell out tour at 7 North East venues (4,000 attended!) last November.
www.cramlingtontrainwreckers.co.uk
www.wisecrackproductions.co.uk
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
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 national Central London demonstration is on Saturday 31st January, assembling 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, USDAW, BFAWU, CWU, Equity, BMA, NUJ, MU, UVW, GMB, SOR, RCM, RCN, IWGB, Prospect, CSP, NAPO, INTO (Ireland), SIPTU (Ireland) and Mandate (Ireland)
Workers unity against the far-right – The far-right are again trying to whip up racist division by scapegoating refugees and migrants. The NSSN calls for the unions to play a leading role in opposing this offensive, which will only weaken our movement in the interests of the employees. We call on the TUC to implement the policy passed at its 2018 Congress, to launch a campaign of ‘Jobs and homes NOT racism.’
See info on counter-protests on union and trades councils social media and the Stand Up to Racism website.
National demonstration ‘in unity and against the far-right’ called by Together Alliance – Saturday 28th March in central London read more
Oppose blacklisting & union victimisation
Spycops inquiry condemned as “fundamentally flawed” in statement by blacklisted workers – The SpyCops public inquiry that restarts evidence hearings this week is described as “fundamentally flawed” by the Blacklist Support Group (BSG). The comments appear in an opening statement for the inquiry’s Tranche 3 hearings. The statement opens with a section stating:
“Undercover police officers infiltrated and spied on trade unions. SDS reported on union meetings, union activists, union campaigns, and industrial disputes. For decades, police and security service records were used to blacklist trade union and leftwing political activists from employment. Through official and unofficial routes, the police intelligence was disseminated to government departments, major private sector employers and the unlawful blacklisting bodies; the Economic League and the Consulting Association”. The statement goes onto catalogue 10 years of missed opportunities and broken promises in relation to blacklisting, including highlighting how intelligence gathered by undercover police is used to provide state organised vetting for employers known as ‘List X companies’. One section of the statement reads: “The failure to fully investigate blacklisting is either a remarkable lack of curiosity, or an intentional self-imposed restriction of the Inquiry’s terms of reference. Either way it is against the public interest and is a failure to fulfil the Inquiry’s terms of reference as laid out by Parliament”.
BSG’s opening statement is published on the inquiry’s website as part of the submission by Imran Khan KC, who also represents Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE, Suresh Grover and the Monitoring Group. Full statement in link below – BSG section starts at page 35.
https://www.ucpi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/T3P1-Opening-Statement-Imran-Khan-Partners.pdf
Opening statement to the Undercover Policing Inquiry on behalf of:
Lois Austin, Richard Chessum, ‘Mary’, Dave Nellist, Hannah Sell, Youth against Racism in Europe read here
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/blacklistSG/
blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
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
Nigeria Solidarity: Victory At Last! #EndBadGovernance Activists ‘Treason’ Trial Cancelled – Pressure forces Nigerian Government to anabdon sham trial of Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 other #EndBadGovernance protestors charged with treason and terrorism
Today, December 10, 2025, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja struck out the treason and terrorism charges against Adaramoye Michael Lenin and 10 others. In his ruling, Justice Emeka lamented that the prosecuting counsel had shown a lack of diligence and seriousness in the case they initiated against the protesters. Subsequently, Michael Lenin and his co-defendants, who were detained and put on trial over the August 2024 nationwide #EndBadGovenance protest against mass hunger, economic hardship and anti-poor policies of Bola Tinubu government, were acquitted. Other activists are Daniel Akande, Mosiu Sadiq Adeyemi Abiodun Abayomi, Angel Love Innocent, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, Buhari Lawal, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Suleiman Yakubu. Abdulsalam Zubairu read more
USA: Support the Starbucks strike – read more on Starbucks Workers United website and follow @SBWorkersUnited on X/Twitter
Türkiye: No to union-busting at Digel read more
Diary
2026 NSSN Conference will be on Saturday 27th June 11am-4.30pm
