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NSSN 778: Support the summer strikes as action hots up!

It’s not only the weather that is hotting up. There is a definite increase in disputes as workers fight to keep the cost of living squeeze at bay. Also, Unite bus workers in North London are actually striking over poor working conditions in the hot weather.

The NSSN will continue to build support for all strikes and action.

The NSSN TUC Congress Rally and Lobby will give a platform to these strikes and also set out demands on the Burnham Government that workers need, enshrined in our NSSN Action Programme.

Burnham takes over at No.10 – Sign up to the NSSN Action Programme to defend workers from cost of living crisis

  • NSSN lobby of the TUC Congress in Brighton from 1pm on Sunday 13th September, in the Holiday Inn Hotel – register here

Andy Burnham is the new Labour Prime Minister. Starmer paid the price for two years of government, when despite a massive 170+ seat majority in Parliament, many workers are asking: “What’s changed?”

The NSSN Conference on 27th June debated the strategy and programme needed to defend workers from the cost of living crisis, and unanimously passed an action programme (below) which we appeal to union members to take into their union branches and committees, shop stewards committees and trades councils, and raise on picket lines, protests and demonstrations. This set of demands must be put forward on Burnham’s government. We can’t afford to take the pressure off.

Unions have been discussing where next on public sector pay. The NEU announced the result of its online snap poll which “found strong support for action on pay and funding.”

  • 97 per cent believe it is unacceptable that their school will have to find the money to make up the shortfall in government funding for the pay rise.
  • The vast majority of those polled (89 per cent) said they would be prepared to take strike action to ensure any pay award is fully funded.
  • Three quarters (76 per cent) said they would be prepared to take strike action to win an improved pay offer this year.

(The survey was conducted between 11-17 July).

“Informed by the findings of this poll, the National Education Union’s executive has this week reaffirmed plans to proceed to a formal ballot of members in the autumn term on pay and funding.”

Local authority unions Unison, GMB and Unite have rejected the pay offer with Unison and Unite starting industrial action ballots on pay.

The NSSN sends solidarity to all workers and their union involved in dispute, and we stand with public sector unions in their fight on pay.

We also encourage everyone to attend and build the NSSN Lobby & Rally at TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday 13th September – 1pm at the Holiday Inn Hotel, where we will be mobilising behind our Action Programme.

Watch videos from NSSN conference, including the platform speakers here.

The NSSN conference NSSN proposed an ‘Action Programme’, to be taken out to the wider trade union movement to take on the cost-of-living crisis (download here). That Action Programme is carried below:

NSSN Conference 2026 Action Programme to defend workers from the cost of living squeeze: ‘We’re not paying for the bosses’ crisis’

  • Above inflation pay rises for workers – automatic rises in pay as inflation increase. In the public sector, for these to be fully funded by central government.
  • Scrap all age exemptions on pay, including the national minimum wage. For the immediate implementation of the TUC demand of a £15-an-hour minimum wage for all as a step towards a real living wage, without exemptions.
  • Stop the profiteering: nationalise the energy & water companies.
  • Freeze rents and energy & utility bills.
  • Demand that councils refuse to implement cuts, and instead pass no-cuts needs budgets.
  • Oppose disability benefit cuts and attacks on pensions and campaign for a fully resourced, supportive social security system to meet needs of working class people.
  • Demand that the TUC enact Congress 2025 policy by calling an Autumn national demo against Labour austerity. If not, for a trade union ‘coalition of the willing’ to step in to organise such a demonstration.
  • Support the NSSN lobby of the TUC Congress in Brighton from 1pm on Sunday 13th September, in the Holiday Inn Hotel.
  • Strike together: co-ordinate the fight on national public sector pay – unite workers across the public and private sectors.
  • Repeal all the Tory anti-union laws – immediate scrapping of the undemocratic 50% strike ballot threshold.
  • Restore the right to strike to the POA.
  • Workers unity to face down Reform and the far-right: for the unions to implement 2018 TUC Congress policy ‘to launch a campaign of Jobs and homes not racism’.
  • Launch the discussion for a Workers Charter, and how we can fight for it, against the attack on our living standards.

Download and distribute our new NSSN Workplace Report “45 QUID A YEAR IS NOWHERE”    

Workplace Report No. 3 - Colour -thumb
Workplace Report No. 3 – “45 QUID A YEAR IS NOWHERE”    

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Contact us: email – [email protected].    

Support the Birmingham bin workers – over a year of indefinite strike action

The Unite Birmingham bin workers have taken over a full year of indefinite strike action against the brutal £8,000 slashing of their wages by the then Labour Council, shamefully on the watch of a Labour government.

We demand that the new council honour this agreement.

Senior figures in Birmingham bin talks confirm Unite deal (5 June) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has welcomed the statements by former Acas chair Lord Brendan Barber and Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker. Both statements from two senior figures in the room over the months of negotiations with Unite and the leader of the council, are clear and unambiguous. The negotiations between Barber, Parker, former leader of Birmingham council John Cotton and Unite general secretary Sharon Graham began in December 2025 and the deal was concluded in March 2026. As Lord Barber has said, Unelected officers and commissioners of the council attempting to cause delay is unacceptable.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “As Lord Barber and Mayor Parker have both said, the deal to end this dispute has been negotiated and agreed. The continued attempts by unelected council officers and commissioners to block, delay and throw into doubt this deal is unacceptable and will simply not work. We look forward to the elected members of the council agreeing the process for the implementation of the deal, so the usual ballot of members can take place. Workers and residents have put up with enough of the constant dither and delay. This is a good deal for workers and residents and it needs to be swiftly finalised.” Read more

Details of the proposed deal read more

   

Union News     

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RMT     

RMT National Dispute Fund      

No to driver-only operations on Chiltern (5 Aug) – RMT has rejected plans to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new East West Rail line following confirmation that Chiltern Railways intends to operate services on the new route without a second safety-critical member of staff, despite RMT’s long-standing opposition to DOO. 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. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that a guaranteed safety-critical second person onboard trains was essential for carrying out a wide range of duties and responding properly to dangerous and fast-moving situations read more

Outsourced Merseyrail cleaners to take strike action (31 July) – Cleaners on Merseyrail employed by outsourcing firm Churchill Services will take 24-hour strike action against low pay next week on Friday August 7 to Saturday August 8. Despite repeated attempts to negotiate, Churchill has refused to put forward an acceptable offer, leaving workers no other option but to take strike action. The union believes that Churchill can improve the current pay offer as the company reported a post-tax profit of £15.3 million for the 2025 financial year, and distributed dividends of approximately £13.5 million. Moreover, the company’s highest paid director, who is also a significant shareholder, received remuneration of £603,000. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that the company clearly had the capacity to fund the relatively small additional cost required to maintain the current pay differential sought by members read more

RMT has deep concerns over jobs as BP pulls out of North Sea operations (31 July) – OFFSHORE union RMT is deeply concerned by the reports surrounding BP’s future in the North Sea and the potential impact on more than 1,000 skilled workers, their families and communities. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey immediate concern was the livelihoods of the workers who had built and sustained one of the world’s most successful offshore industries for decades read more

Outsourced workers to strike at TransPennine (30 July) – Rail union RMT said that outsourced cleaners and catering workers at TransPennine Express (TPE) will take 48-hour strike action against low pay from tomorrow (Friday, July 31). Catering workers at Rail Gourmet and cleaners at Bidvest Noonan will take action as the company has yet to even make a pay offer even though the anniversary date was back in April. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that low pay was how outsourcing giants made money out of the rail network and called on the government to act read more & see strike details read more

Further strike action at Avanti West Coast (29 July) – Rail union RMT has announced further strike action by Avanti West Coast members at Manchester Piccadilly station on Saturday August 1 over the unfair dismissal of a colleague. Despite taking industrial action against sacking which was based on anonymous allegations, the company has decided to ignore the workforce and uphold the sacking at an appeal hearing. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that it was extremely disappointing to sack a worker who had clearly been the victim of a toxic workplace culture which encouraged anonymous and unsubstantiated complaints read more

RMT strikes over safety on EMR to go ahead (29 July) – Rail union RMT said that 24-hour strike action on East Midlands Railways will go ahead on Saturday August 1 after the company refused to withdraw faulty trains and talks collapsed. The dispute centres around the roll out of the 810 fleet which has been operating with a significant number of dangerous faults. EMR has been sending trains into service that are likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside which has occurred at least three times in the last week alone. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that the sudden departure of the Managing Director of East Midlands Railway this week was yet another symptom of the sense of crisis surrounding the company read more & strike details

RMT strike action over safety at East Midlands Railway (21 July) – RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) plan to take strike action on Saturday, August 1, and the following two Saturdays over growing safety concerns that the company has failed to address. RMT has been in dispute with EMR since April following the roll out of the 810 fleet which has been operating with a significant number of faults. Yet EMR has been sending trains into service that are likely to fail and require a full reset which leaves the train with no active safety systems including loss of communication between train drivers, dispatchers, and trackside which has occurred at least three times in the last week alone. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that RMT reps at EMR had been extremely patient and tried to engage with management to no avail read more

RMT suspends Merseyrail strike action (17 July) – RMT has suspended three days of strike action on Merseyrail planned for July 18 to 20 after the company made an improved offer. This offer will now be considered within union structures and with RMT representatives. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey congratulated Merseyrail members for their resolve to win an improved offer and this will now be discussed among the membership read more

CAF Rail strike to hit Transport for Wales maintenance as pay dispute escalates (10 July) – RMT members employed by CAF Rail on the Transport for Wales contract will take strike action on Sunday and Monday evening after the company refused to improve its pay offer and retaliated against workers for taking lawful industrial action. The strikes will run between 17:59 and 05:30 on Sunday 12 July into Monday 13 July, and again between 17:59 and 05:30 on Monday 13 July into Tuesday 14 July. The industrial action is part of an ongoing dispute over pay and follows CAF Rail’s decision to ban members from undertaking overtime after they exercised their legal right to withdraw their labour read more

RMT confirms further strike action in Carlisle Support Services pay dispute (18 June) – RMT members employed by Carlisle Support Services, working on the Northern rail contract will continue their long-running dispute over pay by taking 48 hours strike action from Saturday. The action follows Carlisle Support Services’ continued refusal to negotiate a proper pay settlement through collective bargaining, despite increasing demands being placed on frontline staff including gate line operatives and revenue officers…Carlisle Support Services has recently claimed that it has “honoured our agreement to implement an annual pay uplift in line with the Living Wage increase”. RMT has rejected that claim, making clear that the increase is not the result of any negotiated agreement with the union but stems from the company’s commitment as an accredited Living Wage employer read more

RMT members at Heavy Haul Rail to take 48-hour strike action (16 June) – Rail union RMT, will take strike action at Heavy Haul Rail Ltd on Thursday 25 June for 48 hours, after the company refused to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of a major restructuring programme. Despite ongoing discussions and some mitigation measures being secured through negotiations, the employer continues to refuse to provide assurances that jobs will be protected. The dispute centres on proposals affecting Control, Rosters, TOPS, Train Planning, Administration and Management grades, with the company seeking to restructure operations, merge roles, revise job descriptions, and relocate some roles around 200 miles away for no operational or cost benefit. The major rail freight and bulk haulage operator, which supports critical infrastructure projects as well as Network Rail renewal and maintenance work, has rejected the union’s demand for a no compulsory redundancy agreement read more

RMT drivers to strike as management continue to ignore demands or provide reasonable assurances (29 May) – 4-DAY WORKING WEEK & TRAINS FUNCTIONAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATION – LONDON UNDERGROUND. As you know, the strike action which had been scheduled for last week was suspended to allow further negotiations in obtaining clarity on what management’s position is on protecting those drivers who do not wish to accept new terms and conditions to enter into the compressed four-day week arrangements. Your Regional Organiser, accompanied by the functional negotiating team, have met twice with management where the employer summarised its position that has since been formally received in correspondence, and LUL has failed to adequately address the points raised by RMT read more

TSSA

Burnham’s bus fare cap – step in right direction (22 July) – Transport and travel union TSSA has described as a ‘step in the right direction’ Andy Burnham’s announcement that single bus fares across England will be capped at £2 from January next year. The move from the new Prime Minister reverses the previous cap – set at £3 – which was put in place by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves on coming into office in 2024 read more

Forthcoming strike action at West Midlands Trains (6 July) – Rail union TSSA has said strikes planned for later this week at West Midlands Trains (WMT) over rest day working payments are set to go ahead and will have a significant impact. The walkouts are a result of WMT and the Department for Transport repeatedly failing to fulfil their assurance that an improved rest day working agreement – giving TSSA members parity with other unions – would be secured.

  • Roster Clerks will be on strike on Thursday 9 July 2026 at 00:01hrs until Friday 10 July 2026 at 00:01hrs. 
  • Duty Train Crew Managers and Control grades will not book on for duty between the hours of 12:00 noon on Friday 10 July 2026, until 12:00 noon on Saturday 11 July 2026.  

This is the second round of strikes in the dispute after similar action was taken in May this year. TSSA balloted over 100 members across these roles for the relevant industrial action read more

Unite     

Navantia workers in Methil secure new pay deal (5 Aug) – 200 workers set to benefit from above inflation increase. Unite can confirm today (Wednesday 5 August) that around 200 workers employed by Navantia at its Methil yard have secured a new pay increase. The offer, backed by the workforce, will see an above inflation pay increase of 3.3 per cent being applied to the basic hourly wage and backdated to 1 April. The workers covered by the new pay deal include welders, platers, joiners, electricians, and labourers. Unite members had emphatically backed industrial action by 96 per cent in an effort to secure an enhanced pay offer by Navantia. In November 2024, Navantia took ownership of all four Harland and Wolff (Belfast, Appledore, Methil and Anish) dockyards read more

Unite ballots Glasgow Airport workers on strike action (5 Aug) – ABM staff in dispute over unacceptable pay offer. Unite the union can confirm today (5 August) it is balloting workers who assist passengers with restricted mobility based at Glasgow Airport on strike action. Over 90 workers employed by ABM at Glasgow airport are involved in a dispute over an unacceptable pay offer. The workers being balloted include customer service agents, ambilift drivers and allocators. The company has offered an increase for some workers worth only 15 pence per hour more than the Scottish Living Wage level (£13.45). Unite has been running a long-standing campaign to have basic pay levels sustained above the real living wage level at Glasgow airport across all employers. ABM Aviation made profits of nearly £7m after tax in 2025, improving on the £5.95m made in the previous year. The ballot is now open and closes 20 August read more

Unite takes legal action against Heathrow catering firm Do & Co over TUPE transfer agreement (4 Aug) – Unite, the leading union representing workers in civil air transport, is currently taking legal action against catering firm Do & Co over their refusal to honour a TUPE agreement for workers. The union is in the process of pursuing collective legal proceedings against the firm, with employment tribunal claims currently pending, after it refused to transfer 117 employees, more than 100 of whom were Unite members who subsequently lost their jobs. Dnata had lost its American Airlines contract operating from London Heathrow Airport and it was taken over by Do & Co. Now, Do & Co is again refusing to honour a TUPE agreement. In early June, Unite learned that Do & Co had won the catering contract for Air India flights operating out of London Heathrow Airport, taking over from Dnata. There are 44 employees who should be transferred to Do & Co by 1 September – the majority of whom are Unite members. However, their future employment is now uncertain as Do & Co has refused to engage with Unite regarding the TUPE transfer. The only correspondence received has been marked ‘without prejudice’, together with the position that TUPE may not apply because Do & Co considers the services provided under this contract to be different from those previously delivered by Dnata read more

Major disruption to bus services as Arriva North London workers will strike over conditions (4 Aug) – There will be huge disruption to bus services in North London and Essex from this month, as over 1,500 drivers at eight garages will walk out. Unite members at Arriva North London are taking several days of action, after the employer failed to act on driver complaints about poor working conditions in hot weather. Most buses operated by Arriva North London have air cooling systems rather than more effective air conditioning. The air cooling system has only managed to reduce temperatures by around two or three degrees during the recent series of heatwaves and driver cabs can reach 40 degrees and higher. Working in hot weather is dangerous for bus drivers. It can exacerbate the problem of fatigue, which puts drivers and the general public at risk as it can lead to crashes. Some drivers have experienced health problems from driving in hot weather this summer, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration…Arriva’s latest financial figures released in mid 2025 showed it reported a pre-tax profit of €156 million and an operating profit of €127 million. The dispute also centres around allegations of union busting by Arriva North. London management, including the bullying of Unite representatives and members. Drivers involved in the dispute are based at the following bus garages: Barking, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Palmers Green, Stamford Hill, Tottenham and Wood Green. Strikes will take place on 14 to 15 August, 18 to 21 August, 25 to 28 August, 4 to 5 September, 7 to 8 September, 18 to 19 September, 21 to 22 September, 2 to 3 October, 5 to 6 October, 16 to 17 October and 19 to 20 October. Industrial action will lead to significant delays and cancellations of bus services in the capital and some of the planned strike dates are taking place at the same time as closures on the Piccadilly Line in August and September read more

Pay win delivered for GXO drivers in Bellshill (4 Aug) – Unite the union can confirm it has delivered an inflation beating pay win for GXO drivers based in Bellshill. Around 30 HGV drivers covered by the pay deal which is backdated to April deliver kitchens on the Howdens contract to centres across Scotland. The one year pay deal consists of a five per cent pay rise alongside all breaks being paid which is worth a further 5.5 per cent. This brings the overall pay package increase to 10.5 per cent. The union estimates that the drivers’ overall pay package has increased by up to 30 per cent over the last three years since Unite gained trade union recognition in November 2023 read more

Isle of Wight RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre workers vote to strike amid redundancy terms dispute (3 Aug) – Workers at the Isle of Wight’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Inshore Lifeboat Centre workers will take industrial action as the charity is still failing to offer improvements to a redundancy package for Unite members, despite weeks of negotiations. Last month, the RNLI stated it would close the Inshore Lifeboat Centre by 2028, which would cause job losses and have a huge impact on the local community and local marine industry, and would only build lifeboats in Poole, Dorset, instead. Talks between conciliatory body ACAS and the RNLI broke down, after the RNLI said it would not offer any enhancement on the redundancy payments due to the ‘generous’ relocation allowance it has offered to staff. However, for most workers at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre, relocating to Poole, a more expensive area, from the island isn’t feasible for their finances or their families. The union is calling on the RNLI to negotiate a fair package for these workers that will be made redundant after the organisation promised them a ‘job for life’. The workforce in East Cowes do a highly skilled role supplying and maintaining lifeboats for over half of the 238 stations run by the RNLI across the UK…Workers at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre will strike on 11, 19 and 25 August. There will be a series of planned actions, including workers going to East Cowes to ask businesses and travellers at the ferry port to support Unite’s petition  read more

Unite secures wage win for Brake Brothers workers in Motherwell (3 Aug) – Pay deal worth over £1,600 for over 400 Newhouse based workers. Unite can confirm today (Monday 3 August) that around 400 workers employed by Brake Brothers based in Newhouse, Motherwell, have secured a major pay increase. The offer backed by the workforce, will see pay increases of up to 4.85 per cent on the basic hourly wage for warehouse, administrative, hygiene and distribution drivers which is worth an extra 70 pence an hour. The deal includes for managers a smaller percentage increase but a one-off payment equivalent to the same overall rise for all workers of an extra £1,638 over the year. The pay package will be backdated to April. The latest Brake Brothers pay victory builds on the success of last year’s deal which delivered increases of up to 9.8 per cent on the basic hourly wage. This means take home pay over two years has risen by over £3,000 read more

NSAI: Unite slams ‘breathtaking cynicism’ of bank holiday closure announcement (2 Aug) – Union warns of public sector industrial relations impact and urges government intervention. Trade union Unite, which represents technical staff working for the National Standards Authority of Ireland’s medical devices section, today (Sunday) slammed the NSAI’s announcement that the section is to close.  The decision was communicated to workers by email at 2 minutes to 5pm by the CEO Geraldine Larkin as workers were about to head off for the bank holiday weekend. Last week Unite members in the NSAI voted overwhelmingly for industrial action following the authority’s decision to seek government sanction for compulsory redundancies contrary to established practice in the public sector read more

National Standards Authority: Workers set for industrial action following redundancy threat (30 July) – NSAI accused of undermining public sector industrial relations. Workers at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over proposed job losses. The move by Unite members in the Medical Devices Division follows the NSAI’s decision to seek government sanction to impose compulsory redundancies contrary to established practice in the public sector. The NSAI is also proposing to impose staff reassignments without agreement. The industrial action will start on Tuesday 4 August and will initially involve Product Reviewers withdrawing from billable work linked to conformity assessments, while Auditors will only be available to conduct audits for their daily contracted hours inclusive of travel time read more

Unite: North Sea workers must be at heart of BP sale discussions (31 July) – Responding to today’s announcement by BP to sell their North Sea oil and gas business, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The workers who work for BP’s North Sea business must put be at the heart of all discussions going forward. Jobs, pay and conditions must be protected…” read more

Thousands of child health appointments in Wales being missed as health worker strikes continue (31 July) – New FOI data highlights impact of strikes at Cwm Taf Health Board as they continue to refuse pay increase. Strikes continue until October. Thousands of children across south Wales are missing vital appointments with health visitors as a strike by workers escalates. Health visitors at the Cwm Taf health board have been on strike since February over the refusal of the board to honour their own job evaluation and grading that has seen every health visitor lose up to £9000 a year in pay. New FoI data obtained by Unite now shows the critical impact the strikes are having on families in south Wales. The data shows that nearly 24,000 health visitor appointments were due across March, April and May 2026. Only just over 900 of those visits were completed. Meanwhile, across Bridgend council area, health visitor safeguarding referrals are at just 17 per cent of the level they were at last year…Health visitors have been on strike for 23 weeks with further strike dates issued until the end of October, and the potential of extending further. Strike action will take place on: 27-31 July; 3-7 August; 10-14 August; 17-21 August; 24-28 August; 31 August-4 September; 7-11 September; 14-18 September; 21-25 September; 28 September-2 October; 5-9 October; 12-16 October; 19-23 October; 26-30 October read more

Unite responds to Andy Burnham’s speech on adult social care (29 July) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has today (29 July) responded to prime minister Andy Burnham’s speech on adult social care. Four in five UK adults will need care during their lives, while hundreds of thousands of workers pay for their relatives’ social care privately, causing huge financial strain. Workers in social care and older people are being let down. Instead of investing in people, successive governments have allowed private equity firms and shareholders to strip millions out of a service that should exist to care for people, not generate profits read more

Great Yarmouth bin and street cleaning tourist season strikes announced (29 July) – Beach and street cleaning and business and household waste collections to stop. Great Yarmouth bin and street cleaning workers, along with landscaping workers and grave diggers, will begin strike action in August, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Around 100 workers will strike over poverty pay, as most earn pennies above the minimum wage. In comparison, wages for staff doing the same jobs in Norwich, Broadland and Lowestoft are 20 per cent higher…Strikes will take place on 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12 August. Industrial action will intensify throughout the summer if the dispute is not resolved read more

Manchester City Council considering cancelling event at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel amid Unite dispute (28 July) – Manchester City Council has told management at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel that it will potentially withdraw its provisional booking for the Best of Manchester Awards ceremony in October. A letter seen by Unite shows that it was written by MCC’s deputy leader Garry Bridge to management. In it, he expresses support for striking workers at Kimpton Clocktower and its bar and restaurant The Refuge. Mr Bridge also calls for management to engage positively with Unite workers seeking recognition and adds that should the matter not be resolved, MCC will review future and existing bookings at the venue. However, Unite has still not received a response from Kimpton Clocktower owner InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) around the letter. The event is set to take place at the Kimpton Clocktower on October 23. This is a newly-launched awards that celebrates people, groups and organisations who have gone the extra mile to help Manchester…The dispute centres around IHG’s refusal to give Unite members recognition, despite weeks of attempted negotiation from the union. Meanwhile, IHG management also sacked two Unite representatives on trumped-up charges after workers began organising. Workers at Kimpton Clocktower and The Refuge have also escalated strike action. They will now walk out on 31 July to 2 August, coinciding with events planned around Manchester Trans Pride and 7 to 9 August read more

Pilgrim’s Food: Enniskillen workers to strike in pursuit of pay justice and paid breaks (28 July) – Unite members working at the Pilgrim’s Foods site at Carran Business Park in Enniskillen are set to take strike action in pursuit of pay justice. The strike will commence at 6.30 am on Tuesday 4 August and end at 6.30 am on Saturday 8 August. Workers are seeking a reasonable pay increase that is applied consistently to all employees within the bargaining unit and reflects the increased cost of living. They are also demanding parity in working conditions, as day shift workers currently do not receive paid breaks in line with their colleagues in other grades and shifts read more

Aberdeen airport workers accept enhanced pay offer (27 July) – ICTS security staff secure inflation beating deal. Unite can confirm that ICTS security staff based at Aberdeen airport have accepted an enhanced pay offer, following an improved last-minute offer, resulting in industrial action being called off. The airport workers have backed an inflation beating pay award which will lift basic hourly wages by 6.5 per cent alongside an improved overtime rate. ICTS HBS Security made a last minute pay offer just as workers were set for fourteen days of strike action throughout July and into August. As a gesture of goodwill Unite suspended all industrial action until the vote on the enhanced pay offer was complete read more

Hundreds of Gatwick planes to be grounded if Menzies Aviation refuellers strike (24 July) – Gatwick refuelling tanker drivers and operators employed by Menzies Aviation on the Shell contract are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said. The workers refuel planes for Wizz Air, Ryanair, Air China, China Southern, Malta Air, Turkish Airlines, Air Baltic, SkyAlps and Air Peace. The airlines transport between 7,000 and 8,000 Gatwick passengers per day. They have rejected a 3.5 per cent offer from Menzies Aviation, which brought in record global revenues of $3 billion in 2025. Meanwhile, Shell reported profits of $6.92 billion in the first quarter of 2026. The workers are asking for 4.5 per cent pay rise as well as for their overtime rate to brought into parity with other Menzies Aviation Gatwick workers. Currently the refuellers earn time and a third, compared to time and a half for all other Menzies Aviation staff at Gatwick…Menzies Aviation has also damaged industrial relations by putting forward the same offer repeatedly and using aggressive tactics to try and get workers to accept it. The ballot for strike action closes on 11 August and any potential industrial action will begin shortly afte read more

South London & Maudsley NHS estates workers strike over fair pay (23 July) – Unite raises concerns over controversial estates director Kathryn Magson who was previously slammed by an employment tribunal. South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust estates staff will strike later this month over unequal pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers, including joiners, electricians, plumbers and painter and decorators, are on different pay grades – ranging from band three to band five. Some workers are on band three despite doing exactly the same job as colleagues on band five and having worked in those roles for up to 25 years read more

Tesco stores across UK face ‘empty shelves’ as distribution workers ballot for strike (23 July) – Workers in Belfast, Didcot, Doncaster and Thurrock demand same pay rise as store staff as Tesco continues to rake in massive profits. More than 3,000 Tesco warehouse workers and HGV drivers are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers have rejected a four per cent pay rise, which is considerably below the 5.1 per cent given to store staff. They have voted overwhelmingly in a consultative ballot in favour of strike action. Tesco reported adjusted operating profits of £3.2 billion for 2025/26 and forecasts an adjusted operating profit of between £3 billion and £3.3 billion for 2026/27…Strike action would involve around 700 Didcot workers, 400 Belfast workers, 600 Doncaster workers and 1,400 Thurrock workers – severely impacting distribution to Tesco stores across the UK. The ballot for strike action closes on 17 August read more

Nestle warned sale of Buxton water must not be used to attack workers (23 July) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned Nestle that the sale of Buxton water to private equity firm Platinum Equity must not be used as a cover to attack workers. The union is concerned that Nestle, which will still retain a substantial interest in the business, will use the divestment to dilute pensions, benefits and terms and conditions and put jobs at risk read more

Balcas workers set for week-long strike action from tomorrow (23 July) – Unite warns seven-day strike at Balcas will impact timber supplies across Northern Ireland. Approximately 150 Unite members employed at Balcas will take a week of strike action in an escalating industrial dispute at the Enniskillen sawmill. The strike will commence from 05:00 tomorrow (Friday 24 July) and continue for seven days. Over the last month the low-paid workforce has taken three one-day strikes in pursuit of an improved pay increase. The strike follows rejection of an inadequate and below-inflation offer of a mere 50 pence extra in each of the next two years. Unite is warning that the planned week-long strike action will severely impact production at Northern Ireland’s largest sawmill. Many workers at Balcas are paid little more than the minimum wage, and most have to work excessive overtime to bring in enough money to live read more

Sign this petition: Tell East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) – Hands off Mark Dunne! Stop trade union victimisation! Mark Dunne, ELFT’s most senior trade union representative, is facing redundancy. This redundancy and other processes related to it, have been handled with unprecedented hostility indicating a clear act of trade union victimisation

  • Protest outside the East London NHS Trust Foundation Trust Borad Meeting to support Mark Dunne – 12noon, Thursday 23rd July outside Trust HQ, Alie St E1 8DE (Robert Dolan House)

Sign this petition: Provide 24/7 toilet facilities for East Ham Central Park bus drivers – The hardworking bus drivers on Transport for London (TfL) routes 115 and 58 at East Ham Central Park are currently facing a serious health and hygiene issue due to the lack of accessible toilet facilities. This oversight not only affects their personal wellbeing but also has potential negative implications for the service they provide to the public

ESB engineers begin ban on out of hours work (15 July) – Over 20 members of Unite in ESB’s Engineering and Major Projects business unit, will begin a ban on non-emergency work outside of normal hours. The decision follows a unanimous ballot for industrial action in pursuit of fair overtime pay. The engineers have responsibility for the frontline commissioning and maintenance of critical high voltage infrastructure, essential to the safe and reliable operation of the electricity network. Many of the engineers are on lower base pay than workers they work alongside and who are all entitled to premium overtime rates. The industrial action will have a significant impact on the delivery of maintenance work programmes during a particularly busy period. The industrial action will be continuous from 17:00 today (Wednesday 15 July) read more

Scarborough Alexander Dennis bus maker pay strikes escalate (13 July) – Spending power of striking workers’ wages have fallen by 20 per cent since 2020. Pay strikes by 400 Scarborough workers employed by bus maker Alexander Dennis will escalate from later this month, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The workers have rejected a four per cent offer from the company after the cost-of-living crisis was compounded by years of sub-par pay increases. Between August 2021 and May 2026, the Retail Prices Index (RPI) rose by approximately 35.1 per cent, meaning prices increased by about a third over that period. During the same period, wages at Alexander Dennis increased by only 15.3 per cent, meaning the wages have fallen 19.8 per cent behind the cost of living…The workers’ first round of strike action took place from 25 June to 1 July. They will strike again, shutting down the factory’s operations, from 16 to 20 July. Further dates will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved read more

Cambridge Marshall Aerospace engineers ballot for strike action over pay (13 July) – C-130 Hercules military aircraft support could face disruption. Around 250 Unite members at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. The highly skilled engineers maintain C-130 Hercules aircraft and manufacture auxiliary fuel tanks for the Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, making a vital contribution to allied defence capability. Workers have overwhelmingly rejected the company’s 4.5 per cent pay offer. Since 2020, their pay has fallen by around 16 per cent in real terms when measured against RPI inflation. The dispute comes as Marshall Group continues to benefit from the significant value being realised through the redevelopment of its Cambridge land holdings. At the same time, Marshall Aerospace remains an established and successful aerospace business…The ballot closes on 21 July. Should members vote in favour of industrial action, Unite will announce the next steps. Any strike action would have significant implications for support provided to allied military aircraft programmes, including the maintenance of C-130 Hercules aircraft read more

Cancer researchers in London missing meals and struggling with bills due to low pay (12 July) – A new survey of striking workers at the world-leading Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) has shown that many are missing meals or unable to pay bills due to the appalling level of pay they receive. Over 300 staff across scientific research, laboratory support, and site management roles have been taking strike action this summer over a pay offer of just four per cent that sees many languishing barely above the London Living Wage. A new survey from the Unite union has laid bare some of the stark realities such low pay brings…Due to the unwillingness of their employer to make a decent pay offer, staff will be taking further strike action from 13 July until 7 August read more

Donate to the strike fund:-

Institute of Cancer Research strike—two important events 🚩

1️⃣ This Friday 7 August, 11am South Kensington tube. Rally to launch indefinite strike strike.

2️⃣ Friday 14 August, 6.30pm ICR strike solidarity fundraiser, The Old Dispensary, Camberwell.

👉 Bring union banners, flags,  delegations, solidarity donations etc to both of these events!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/icr-strike-solidarity-fundraiser-tickets-1996049358363

Thousands of council workers to ballot for strike action over pay (9 July) – Thousands of Unite members working in local authorities are balloting for strike action after rejecting this year’s pay offer. They have turned down a pay offer of 3.3 per cent from the national employers, who set council workers pay, as they believe this fails to address years of below inflation pay offers and pay freezes. The latest offer represents a real-terms pay cut and was made without any negotiations with the union. Workers being balloted work in various council roles including waste and bin collections, street cleaners, street lighting, teaching assistants and home care staff…The councils being balloted are: Great Yarmouth, North East Lincolnshire, South Tyneside, Blackburn with Darwen Borough, Bolton, Cumberland, Knowsley, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region, Oldham, Sefton, Warrington, Westmorland and Furness, Wirral, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham, Haringey, Leeds, Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth and Southampton. Ballots are of a targeted nature and more local authorities could join the dispute at a later date. The ballot opens on 16 July and closes on 17 August read more

Public sector pay Ireland: Unite to ballot members on strike action (8 July) – Union warns industrial action inevitable unless meaningful pay offer tabled. Trade union Unite, which organises workers in a wide range of public sector employments, said today that a meeting of the union’s public sector shop stewards has decided to launch a ballot for industrial action across the public sector. The decision follows the government’s failure to table what the union termed a ‘meaningful offer on pay’ following expiry of the 2024-2026 Public Service Agreement. The ballot is also protective in nature and is intended to ensure that members are in a position to respond should further negotiations fail to produce an acceptable outcome as well protecting existing conditions. Unite is a member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Public Services Committee, which last week advised that they do not believe there is a viable basis for opening formal negotiations in the absence of the Government setting out a sufficiently credible approach to public sector workers’ pay and living standards at the outset read more

AQA workers vote to strike in dispute over pay (6 July) – There is set to be strike action by over 100 workers at exam board AQA in an ongoing dispute over pay. Staff have rejected a pay offer from AQA, as they say this doesn’t go far enough to address years of real terms pay cuts. They are calling for pay restoration as their pay is now worth over 10 per cent less than it was in 2021. While AQA has a huge cash reserve of £164 million, the situation has left staff struggling to cope with the increased cost of living. Half of workers say their level of debt has increased over the last year and over 10 per cent said they regularly use or are considering using food banks to make ends meet…AQA has offices in Guildford, London, Harrogate, Manchester and Milton Keynes. Workers involved in the dispute do various jobs, including in communications and marketing, data analysis and typesetting. Unite members at AQA will strike on 16 and 17 July. They will also be visiting Parliament on 17 July to lobby MPs on the issue of low pay at AQA read more

Strike action by council workers over pay and conditions to escalate (3 July) – Strike action by over a thousand local government craftworkers is escalating, amid a dispute around pay and attacks on conditions. The Unite members undertake council housing repair and maintenance work and are employed at Bristol, Southwark, Stoke-on-Trent, Newham, Leeds and Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils. The strike action is of a targeted nature and more local authorities could join the dispute in the future. Workers involved in the dispute have rejected the 2025 local government pay offer to Red Book workers (local government craftworkers) from the national employers of a 3.2 per cent increase, which they do not believe goes far enough to address over a decade of below inflation pay rises and pay freezes. This was imposed without any negotiations. Craftworkers will now walk out on Monday (6 July) and Wednesday (8 July)…Unite has now launched an action calling on supporters to email prominent members of the LGA negotiation team to meet with Unite and its sister unions in order to resolve the dispute read more

Hundreds of Thales defence workers set to strike (3 July) – Unite members at Govan and Reading plants back action after rejecting pay offer. Unite has confirmed that 300 workers employed by defence manufacturer Thales have overwhelmingly backed industrial action in an escalating pay dispute. Hundreds of Unite members based at the Thales’ sites in Govan, Glasgow and dozens in the company’s Reading headquarters overwhelmingly supported strike action after rejecting a pay offer below the current rate of inflation. Forthcoming talks with the company are scheduled in a final attempt to reach a resolution before strike action is announced. Thales remains the sole supplier of periscopes and optronics masts to the Royal Navy. The company has record levels of orders with the Ministry of Defence recently announcing export deals for Thales worth £1.1 billion sustaining hundreds of jobs in Glasgow. The workers involved in the ballot include electronics, software and systems engineers along with manufacturing and mechanical technicians read more

Further strike action at GKN in Bristol to cause chaos for customers (25 June) – Airbus orders to go unfulfilled as major supplier hit by further industrial action over pay. Major aerospace supply contracts will go unfulfilled as workers at GKN are set to take further strike action this summer over pay. Workers at the Filton site make parts and are the biggest supplier to Airbus who currently have a huge order book for civilian aircraft. With supplies from GKN endangered, orders will cease to be fulfilled leaving major airlines without expected new planes. GKN is a supplier of airframe and engine structures, electrical wiring, and landing gear, with a presence on 90 per cent of today’s aircraft. Around 900 Unite members at the Filton site in Gloucestershire make wings for the Airbus A320. For years workers at GKN have seen their pay fall behind that of other nearby aerospace firms like Airbus and Rolls Royce. Many employees leave in search of better pay. GKN initially offered just a three per cent increase over one year, which was rejected by workers and later improved to just 3.3 per cent. This was also overwhelmingly rejected by the workforce demonstrating the strength of feeling that the offer falls far short of what is required…Unite members have already taken significant strike action and are now ramping up strikes with specific workers and grades across the engineering and maintenance departments that will bring the factory to a standstill. New strikes will take place on 29, 30 June and 1 July as well as on 6, 7 and 8 July. In addition, a blanket overtime ban has also been put in place read more

Brake Brothers workers in strike ballot over pay dispute (23 June) – Motherwell based firm delivers meals to restaurants, prisons and schools. Unite can confirm that over 350 workers employed by Brake Brothers based in Newhouse, Motherwell, are being ballot on industrial action in a pay dispute. The strike ballot involving warehouse workers, hygiene and distribution drivers opens today (Tuesday 23 June) and closes on 14 July read more

Disruption to frontline social care services as Change Grow Live staff ballot for strikes (22 June) – There is set to be disruption to frontline social care services run by charity Change Grow Live (CGL) as over 1,200 workers at almost 150 sites across England and Scotland are being balloted for strike action over pay. Change Grow Live (CGL) is one of the UK’s largest health and social care charities, providing vital support for people facing issues with drugs, alcohol, homelessness, mental health, justice, and employment. Its funding is sourced from the UK government… The ballot opens on 26 June and closes on 10 August. Any strike action would cause disruption to the vital services offered by CGL read more

MoD drivers to strike as management accused of “letting wheels fall off” (18 June) – A group of civil servants within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are taking strike action following years of unresolved concerns regarding workplace treatment, management practices, and failures in leadership accountability. Members of the Unite union have, for years, raised serious and ongoing concerns about the conduct, capability, and decision-making of immediate line management. The specialised civilian service VIP chauffeur drivers operate nationwide, providing discreet, secure, and highly professional transport for senior government personnel. Drawn from highly skilled backgrounds, including former military personnel and ex-police officers, they possess advanced driving qualifications and a deep understanding of security protocols. Beyond the safe and efficient movement of individuals, they are also entrusted with the secure handling and transportation of sensitive and classified documents, delivering a trusted. For over five years, staff have raised serious and ongoing concerns about the conduct, capability, and decision-making of their immediate line management. Despite repeated efforts to resolve these issues through both informal discussions and formal union channels, meaningful progress has not been achieved. Concerns raised have consistently been acknowledged but not acted upon, with agreed actions frequently ignored and established MoD policies not followed…Strike will take place across five days on 16-17 July and 20-22 July read more

Striking Walsall Village Hotel workers protest during England’s opening World Cup game (16 June) – Demonstration outside busy big screen venue to show poverty pay and union-busting the red card. Walsall Village Hotel staff striking over poverty pay will demonstrate outside their workplace while it is packed with football fans watching England’s opening World Cup game. The hospitality, gym, events, reception and housekeeping workers are taking strike action over Village’s failure to pay the Living Wage rate of £13.45 an hour and its refusal to pay young workers’ wages equal to their older colleagues doing the same jobs. They are also striking over the company’s failure to recognise their union, Unite, for collective bargaining…Strike action will take place on 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 30 June and 2, 4, 7 and 10 July. The strikes will severely impact Village Hotel bar and grill services during the extremely busy World Cup period when fans will be watching matches on the venue’s big screens read more

Further strikes at Sellafield as management fail to negotiate (9 June) – Nearly two thousand workers to walk out over special site pay. Further strikes are to take place at the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria following the failure of the employer group to engage in discussions. Construction workers at the site are seeking a site-specific allowance due to the specialist skills needed to work at a nuclear site and the hazardous nature of that site. Construction workers at Sellafield undertake highly skilled work in one of the most complex and heavily regulated nuclear environments in Europe. They contribute directly to hazard reduction, major project delivery, and the long-term mission of the site. Other groups of nuclear workers across the Sellafield site are recognised and rewarded for the unique environment in which they work and the contribution they make. Construction workers rightly ask why their contribution continues to be treated differently. Unite continues to make efforts to avert industrial action and remains committed to securing a negotiated settlement. This latest industrial action will begin on Monday 15 June 2026 and conclude on Sunday 21 June 2026 read more

Tower Hamlets Be Well leisure centre staff to strike over zero-hour contracts (8 June) – Workers also angry over unequal pay, bullying, last minute rota changes, overwork and job roles. Tower Hamlets Bell Well leisure centre staff will begin strike action this week over insecure contracts and mismanagement, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. Managerial staff, lifeguards, fitness instructors, customer service workers and swimming teachers at the John Orwell, Mile End, Poplar, Whitechapel, York Hall and Tiller leisure centres will start striking from tomorrow. The council has allowed an indefensible two-tier workforce to develop inside its own in-house leisure service. Some workers remain on zero-hour contracts, some have no formal written contract at all, others are guaranteed as little as five hours a week, while some are on full council contracts. This has resulted in workers doing the same role being treated differently on pay, job security and terms and conditions. Workers also report unsafe levels of understaffing, particularly in swimming pools, overwork and the denial of rest breaks. In addition, staff have also been forced to carry out duties that have nothing to do with their job roles, such as swimming teachers being expected to clean toilets. The dispute is also over mistreatment by managers, including the arbitrary changing of rotas, as well as attempts to identify union members who will be taking strike action. Tower Hamlets’ leisure services were operated by Greenwich Leisure Ltd until May 2024, when they were brought back under council control. The workers will strike on 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20, 23, 25 and 28 June severely impacting services across all Be Well sites. Industrial action will intensify if the dispute is not resolved read more

Staff at Lancashire hospitals to strike over holiday pay refusal (8 June) – Biomedical staff at Blackburn and Burnley hospitals to walk out this summer. Scientists at two teaching hospitals in Lancashire are being forced to take strike action over the NHS trust’s refusal to pay holiday pay that they are entitled to. Management at the trust have a long history of poor employee relations and this is continuing despite an employment tribunal finding against them. The employer lost at tribunal over this issue several years ago for one employee, but they have refused to settle it for the rest of the employees who are now owed thousands of pounds. This is despite senior management stating that they would always be open to negotiations following previous strikes over safe staffing levels…Affected employees work in the biomedical sciences department dealing with urgent and routine blood tests as well as wider diagnostic work for patients. Strike action will see significant delays to tests and procedures across the trust as workers take to the picket line on 15-19 and 22-26 June, 29 June – 3 July and 6-10 July read more

Bilfinger offshore workers strike suspended (5 June) – Alba FSU and FPF1 assets involved in dispute. Industrial action by 20 offshore Bilfinger workers has been suspended following discussions between Unite and Bilfinger aimed at resolving issues raised by the workforce. Bilfinger workers on the Alba Floating Storage Unit (FSU) and its Floating Production Facility (FPF1) were due to undertake eight days of rolling industrial action. However, following progress in talks between the parties, strike action has been suspended while the agreed process is concluded. The Bilfinger employees involved include scaffolders, engineers, deck crew and rope access workers read more

Fresh disruption to London buses as Bow drivers continue strikes (27 May) – There is further strike action ongoing at Bow bus garage in East London as a dispute around scheduling and driver fatigue continues. Over 300 drivers at the East London Bus & Coach Company (part of Stagecoach) are striking from today (27 May) to Friday (29 May) and then from 11 to 14 June. It comes after the employer has failed to listen to their concerns about scheduling and rota issues, which workers say is leading to severe fatigue issues. These include bus drivers completing multiple hour and a half long journeys without adequate breaks, having just 10 hours of rest times between shifts and Stagecoach refusing to schedule meal relief breaks at the depot, leaving drivers without a suitable area to recover as well as expecting them to refuel vehicles using remote electric charge points, which increases work demands read more

Staff at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge to rally over pay (26 May) – Unite members at Addenbrookes Hospital will hold a rally tomorrow (27 May) in their fight for fairer pay. The medical workers will be calling for an NHS high cost area supplement (HCAS) as part of a wider fight for fairer pay among Unite members in Cambridge. Workers at the university of Cambridge are also calling for a ‘Cambridge weighting’ supplement. Like their university counterparts, medical staff at Addenbrookes, the primary teaching hospital for the university’s medical students, receive no extra pay for working in Cambridge. A recent travel survey commissioned by the hospital trust showed that over 50 per cent of staff are travelling over 10 miles from outside the city to work. High costs are driving workers away from the hospital where they are employed and this means they are far away from the patients that rely on their support. Unite believes they need to be given the NHS HCAS payment now to enable them afford to live in Cambridge – this payment is given to NHS workers in London and Oxford. Unite has been carrying out a HCAS campaign and petition, which already has over 1,600 signatures demanding this supplement payment. The Addenbrookes staff involved in the dispute include those who work as porters, clinical engineering technicians and genomics scientists read more

Striking Cambridge Uni workers joined on picket line by Unite leader (21 May) – Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will join nearly 600 striking Cambridge University workers on the picket line tomorrow. The workers, including library, museum, estates management, finance, student services and IT staff, amongst others, are demanding the introduction of ‘Cambridge weighting’. This is a pensionable local pay supplement for all staff to address the exceptionally high cost of living in the city. The University of Oxford has a pensionable Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 per year. Cambridge staff receive no equivalent, apart from a 2.5 per cent interim payment, which does not address the cost of living for those on a low salary. This interim payment can be removed at any time. Cambridge, like Oxford, is one of the most expensive cities in the UK – with rental costs 30 per cent above the national average. At the same time, Cambridge University has multiple billions in assets read more

British Army facing vehicle crisis as Babcock workers consider strikes over pay (18 May) – Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Babcock Defence Support Group (DSG) on the British army engineering and maintenance contract, are considering strike action, following a derisory pay offer. The approximately 1,400 workers on the contract have rejected a derisory pay increase which is worth on average 2.20 per cent per worker. This is a substantial real terms pay cut as the RPI inflation rate is 4.1 per cent and is set to rise further read more

TfL bus controllers strike to escalate this week (18 May) – There will be further strike action by Transport for London bus workers this week due to an ongoing dispute about rota changes. Over 150 workers, who are bus controllers and network traffic controllers, will walk out on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 May), coinciding with strike action taken by London Underground drivers who are members of the RMT. Bus controllers and network traffic controllers do safety critical roles for TfL, which include dealing with incidents and accidents, managing bus stations and putting in place bus stop closures and diversions due to traffic or emergencies such as accidents read more

JLR Solihull DHL logistics workers to take indefinite strike action over pay (16 April) – DHL JLR HGV drivers also voted for strike action with dates to be announced if talks fail. Around 300 DHL logistics workers based at JLR in Solihull will begin indefinite strike action over pay in early May, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. More than 300 DHL HGV drivers working on the JLR contract in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Solihull and Widnes have also voted in favour of strike action, with dates yet to be announced. The logistics workers and HGV drivers, involved in delivering parts and cars to and from JLR’s West Midlands and North West operations, are angry at an unacceptable three per cent pay offer for 2026 read more

CWU

“Put this proposal to bed”, Liverpool workers and politicians tell BT (30 July) – “Put this proposal to bed”, Liverpool workers and politicians tell BT. Protesting BT workers and local politicians urged that “sense be heard” today, as they protest against plans to relocate hundreds of jobs out of Liverpool. Dozens of workers stood together outside The Plaza, BT’s Liverpool city centre offices on Wednesday against the company’s proposals to move the jobs out of the area. The company claims that down to a rise in cost for renewing the lease on the building, continuing at the site isn’t feasible after the contract ends next March. The move looks set to impact 600 employees – while some will be forced to commute to Manchester or Leeds should they wish to keep their jobs, others will lose their work entirely. They were joined with several prominent politicians from the local area, including Labour MPs Paula Barker, Ian Byrne, Peter Dowd and Kim Johnson, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and council leader Liam Robinson read more

PCS     

You can show your support to the strikes by PCS members by:     

  • Making donations to the PCS Fighting Fund Levy account, sort code: 60-83-01, account no. 20331490    
  • Sending solidarity messages to [email protected]     

Email your MP to save MOD caretaker jobs and homes (5 Aug) – The Ministry of Defence is consulting on plans to abolish 125 caretaker posts across the Army Reserve and University Officers’ Training Corps estate, a move which also puts them at risk of homelessness. These workers provide a vital service, helping keep military sites safe, secure and operational. For many, redundancy would also mean losing their home, with around 88% currently living in tied accommodation linked to their job. Many of the staff have also worked for the MOD for decades and some for generations and fear for theirs and their families’ future. Please take part in this e-action and ask your MP to urge the defence minister Calvin Bailey to reconsider these proposals, meet with PCS and affected families, and fully assess the impact on jobs, homes, safety and security. The consultation, which had been due to close on 14 August, has now been extended to 4 September, so please contact your MP now. Together, we can help protect jobs, homes and vital services read more

Members share fears over MOD plans to scrap caretaker roles (29 July)

FCDO members announce new strike dates (3 July) – The members will take two more days of strike action this month in their dispute over a planned restructure and lack of assurances over compulsory redundancies. PCS members in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office are to take two further days of strike action, on 12 and 26 August, in an ongoing dispute over a planned restructure and lack of assurances over compulsory redundancies. Our members in London and East Kilbride have already held brilliantly supported strike action for four and a half days this month. Members have been out on the picket lines, many for the first time in their career. Action short of a strike (ASOS), is also running continuously from 31 July on all days when strike action is not being taken, until further notice. The members working for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) voted for strike action in a ballot that closed last month. It was in response to restructuring plans, a failure to meaningfully consult with unions, and the refusal to guarantee no compulsory redundancies read more

Picket lines:-

  • FCDO, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH – All four entrances to the building will have picket lines each day from 8-10am
  • FCDO, Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 8EA – Picket lines each day from 8-10am
  • Action short of strike (ASOS) will run from 17-30 July.

Please send messages of support to [email protected]

Managed Service Provider (MSP) – HMRC announces change of suppliers (2 Aug) – Privatisation update – Capita and Foundever (previously Sitel) have won a retendering exercise. HMRC management has told unions that the outsourced Managed Service Provider (MSP) arrangement currently being used to support Online Service Helpdesk (OSH) and PAYE work as part of the Proof of Value (PoV) exercise will change from autumn 2026. The existing suppliers will be replaced by Capita and Foundever following a retendering exercise undertaken by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which runs the ‘framework agreement’ that HMRC is using. HMRC states that it was not involved in selecting the new suppliers but has decided to continue using the UKHSA contract. However, members will understandably question the decision to continue with an arrangement that now includes Capita, a company that has faced significant public scrutiny in relation to a number of government contracts, including the current crisis caused when it took over administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. HMRC acknowledges that some colleagues will have concerns about the use of Capita to deliver HMRC services. The announcement raises wider questions about strategic planning read more

PCS members delaying retirement due to pensions crisis (31 July) – PCS continues to meet weekly with representatives of the Cabinet Office. In the meeting on 24 July, we met with the newly-appointed director of civil service pensions Richard Vianello. Some progress has been made in establishing a quality assurance process to satisfy the Cabinet Office that system fixes are in place and adhered to. PCS welcomed the commitment that Capita will now prioritise and respond to cases that we have escalated on behalf of members. This commitment demonstrates the benefits of union membership and of maintaining that membership after retirement through joining our associate and retired members’ association (ARMs) read more

DWP members in Torquay meet with Group President and MP to fight office closure (29 July) – PCS members from DWP Torquay Service Centre met with GEC members and local MP Steve Darling on 2 July to discuss campaigning against their office closure. As DWP continues to press ahead with the Tory imposed ‘HUB strategy’, we have seen Torquay Service Centre swept up in the most recent tranche of office closures. The strategy aims to close ‘back of house’ processing centres that hold less than 300 staff and move staff into offices that can hold 300+.  This outdated plan has already seen offices close with huge numbers of voluntary redundancies taking place at a cost to the public purse, due to the lack of redeployment opportunities for staff. Offices in Derby, Liverpool, Halifax, Hyde, Motherwell, Sunderland, Glasgow and Blackpool are now marked for closure with staff again being offered a move to another office but that is not the case for the staff in Torquay. There has been no office provided for the staff from Cotswold House meaning around130 long serving civil servants might lose their employment read more

Strike ballot opens for V&A workers (27 July) – PCS members who work for the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London are being asked if they are willing to take strike action over pay, conditions and dignity at work. An industrial action ballot of PCS members at various V&A Museum sites (South Kensington, East Storehouse, East Museum and Young V&A) opened on 23 July and will close at noon on 20 August read more

OCS security guards threatened by job cuts and demotions share why they’re prepared to strike (24 July) – Nearly 40 security officers working at the National Crime Agency (NCA) under threat of losing their job have been sharing why they’re voting for strike action in a PCS ballot. Outsourcing giant OCS has announced plans that could lead to job losses and demotions and as a result PCS launched a ballot which runs until 4 August. The employer OCS has failed to meaningfully consult the staff, who have many years’ service, over plans to cut jobs and significantly worsen their terms and conditions read more

Department for Education industrial action ballot result (23 July) – Turnout was 39.28% in the ballot on planned office closures in Croydon, Exeter, Leeds, Newcastle, Peterborough and Watford, impacting over 350 staff. PCS members in the Department of Education have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the ballot which closed Tuesday 21 July. Unfortunately, the turnout was 39.28% which falls short of the 50% voting threshold needed to legally comply with the anti-trade union laws. This means that action cannot be called at this time read more

End the ballot threshold and allow e-balloting, unions tell new PM (22 July) – PCS backs calls for Andy Burnham, the new prime minister, to introduce electronic balloting and end the 50% ballot threshold read more

PCS members in Sodexo on strike again (17 July) – PCS members working in Sodexo started their second wave of strike action today (17) against cuts to hours and jobs. PCS members working for Sodexo, who previously took two weeks of strike action to oppose cuts to hours, redundancies and changes to job roles and responsibilities, have now received letters from the employer notifying them that the individual consultation has concluded and Sodexo is planning to impose the changes. PCS does not yet have trade union recognition with Sodexo, but supported members through the individual consultation process, met with Sodexo management and continue to seek to engage with them in finding a resolution to the dispute. Despite repeated requests for information from Sodexo to explain their proposals and justification for the cuts, Sodexo has not provided it, making it difficult for PCS to offer detailed alternatives at this stage. PCS members work as receptionists, cleaners, porters and kitchen staff, providing essential services in Erskine House, the UK Government Hub building, and Carne House Belfast. They are paid on or around the national minimum wage and are committed to fighting the cuts by Sodexo, a multinational outsourcing company which reported profits in the region of £679 million. Today’s successful picket marked the first day of the second wave of strike action. There will be a picket line at Erskine House, Chichester Street, Belfast every day from 8am to noon, from Monday 27 July to Friday 31 July 2026. Please visit and support our members on the picket line and reps from the Revenue and Customs branch, donate to the strike fund, marking it Sodexo or send solidarity messages to [email protected]  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

Royal Museums Greenwich members to take strike action to secure better conditions (31 July) – Prospect members at Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, as they campaign to secure improvements to pay and working conditions…77% of those who voted supported strike action on a turnout of 90%. 88% voted in favour of action short of a strike. Members will take strike action on 11th and 12th of August…The action at RMG comes just after Prospect announced that members working at V&A in London have voted for industrial action in two separate disputes over pay and condition   read more

Prospect members to strike over “Amazon-style” working practices at flagship V&A site (30 July) – Prospect members working as collections access officers at the V&A’s recently opened flagship V&A Storehouse site in East London have voted unanimously for strike action in a dispute over working conditions read more

Pensions win for thousands of members after years-long Prospect campaign (30 July) – The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has begun to contact more than 330,000 of its members, which includes thousands of Prospect members, to tell them the good news that they will start to receive inflation increases relating to pensionable service before 6 April 1997 read more

National Library of Wales withdraws pension proposals following Prospect campaign (22 July) – Prospect members at the National Library of Wales have secured an important breakthrough after the employer withdrew its proposed changes to the pension scheme. Earlier this year, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action after the employer proposed changes to the pension scheme. Action short of a strike had been due to begin on 27 July read more

GMB  

Self-driving ‘robotaxis’ in London ‘worrying development’ (5 Aug) – GMB Union, which represents thousands of private hire drivers in London, has today [5 August] reacted to TfL’s decision to grant minicab licenses to autonomous vehicles used by Uber read more

Gardeners at Royal Parks begin vote on strike action (29 July) – Dozens of gardeners working at The Royal Parks are today voting in a strike ballot organised by their union, GMB, following a row over pay. The workers, who are employed by sub-contractor Idverde, look after some of London’s most prestigious parks including Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, Hyde Park, and Brompton Cemetery. The dispute arose after skilled gardeners and team leaders were offered a pay rise amounting to just 70p an hour. Such a small rise in pay will see a significant narrowing of the gap between these senior workers and those on London Living Wage (LLW), suggesting that Idverde is treating LLW as a ceiling rather than a floor. GMB members have already indicated their willingness to take strike action after voting in 85 per cent in favour in a consultative ballot. The ballot closes on Friday 14 August read more

Trump tariffs ‘ill-judged and likely to fail’ (24 July) – GMB Union has responded to the latest wave of tariffs on imports to the US, announced overnight read more

Coastguard CEO faces formal no confidence vote (24 July) – The chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) faces a formal vote of no confidence after GMB Union wrote to the body’s chair. In a letter to Lord Simon Stevens, the union’s coastguard members wrote to ‘formally express our lack of confidence in the leadership of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency under Chief Executive Virginia McVea’ read more

Nestle private equity sale must protect workers’ rights (23 July) – Nestle’s sale of Prince’s Gate Water to a private equity vehicle must not lead to a ‘bonfire of workers’ rights’, GMB Union has warned. The bottled water company – currently owned by Nestle – is set to be offloaded to Platinum Equity. Confectionary company Nestle, which will retain a substantial interest in the business, earlier this year announced more than 450 jobs will be slashed across the country read more

1,000s of Evri drivers reject pay deal (15 June) – Thousands of Evri drivers have rejected a pay deal from bosses with a massive majority. More than 6,000 couriers voted on the offer– which dates back to 2025 – with almost 97 per cent voting to turn it down. GMB Union, which has had a recognition deal with Evri since 2019, recommended drivers reject the deal for the first time. GMB will meet with couriers to discuss next steps read more

NJC Pay 2026/27 Update (23 June) – GMB Regions have met to consider next steps following rejection of the “Full and Final” pay offer from the Local Government National Employers. The offer applies to GMB members working directly for Local Authority employers, Local Authority schools and Academy Trusts. GMB members rejected the pay offer and the employers were invited to open pay negotiations – as there have not been any – and the employers refused. Further consultation will now take place at local level to determine potential employers and workplaces where GMB can deliver targeted local industrial action read more

Strike action at rail manufacturing giant Vossloh (15 June) – Workers at Vossloh in Scunthorpe will down tools this week. GMB Union has today announced that workers at Vossloh will begin industrial action this week. The news comes after pay talks between the company and GMB failed to reach agreement. Workers are furious after company managers offered a below inflation pay rise, despite staff in other parts of the company abroad being offered packages worth over 5.5% and company Directors pocketing 10% bonuses. The company manufactures rails and connector components, currently planned for Sheffield’s tram network. Workers will down tools from 6AM from today, Monday 15 until June read more

Chase Farm Hospital staff at ISS to take strike action (4 June) – Dozens of staff at Chase Farm Hospital have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action following allegations of bullying, overwork, and a toxic workplace culture. The staff, who are represented by GMB Union, are employed by outsourcing giant ISS in a variety of roles including catering, cleaning, and security. They voted 95 per cent in favour of industrial action, which is set to begin on Wednesday 15 July. Serious allegations made by staff include bullying from managers – including racist comments – failure to properly pay overtime for bank holidays, changes to working patterns causing unmanageable workloads, and workplace grievances taking months to be resolved. Despite repeated attempts by GMB and its members to resolve these concerns with ISS, ISS has yet to make any formal counteroffer to attempt to avert industrial action read more

Strike threat as ‘unacceptable’ delays to equal pay (3 June) – Workers have today written to the City’s lead Commissioner demanding action, says GMB. GMB Union members have today written to Birmingham City Council Lead Commissioner, Tony McArdle, calling on the authority to do more to end delays to equal pay settlement. The open letter, co-signed by hundreds of GMB members, calls on Tony McArdle and the city’s Commissioner team to intervene to end the deadlock in settling outstanding claims. Hundreds of equal pay claimants still await settlement details from the authority, despite commitments from the council bosses to speed up the process read more

Sandwell school workers strike (1 June) – Workers from The Orchard School have been pushed to the edge, says GMB. Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Midday Supervisors will begin strike action in Sandwell next week as part of the ongoing dispute at The Orchard School. The strike is joint action between GMB, the union for school support staff, and NASUWT, Britain’s teachers union. Ninety workers at the school are anticipated to join the strike action which comes weeks after overwhelming support for industrial action in a recent ballot of staff at the school. Workers are furious after school bosses failed to respond to grievances and concern raised about student and staff safety at the facility read more

East London primary school staff to strike over proposed pay cuts (22 May) – Teaching assistants at Sir William Burrough Primary School in Tower Hamlets will take strike action over a restructure that could see their pay slashed by thousands of pounds. The workers were balloted by their union, GMB Union, and voted 88 per cent in favour of strike action on a 100 per cent turnout. The school, which is part of the University Schools Trust, has paused the restructure, but declined to scrap it entirely, meaning staff are living with the threat of having their jobs downgraded. If it went ahead, it would see some support staff moved from grade 5 to grade 3, which could represent a loss of up to £7,500 per year for nursery nurses and up to £2,500 a year for learning support assistants. Any staff member who opposes the changes will have no choice but to resign, as the Trust has refused to offer redundancy pay. GMB is also supporting its members in another school in the Trust, St Paul’s Way, which is consulting on a restructure that would affect the jobs and salaries of both teachers and support staff read more

Net-A-Porter deliveries to be ‘savaged’ as 100 strike at warehouse

GMB Union (19 May) – Luxury fashion merchant Net-a-Porter is set to have its distribution centre savaged by industrial action tomorrow and Thursday. 100 distribution workers will walk out for two days after the company failed to honour its commitment to pay the London Living Wage to its lowest‑paid staff. Net-a-Porter offers high-end fashion deliveries, and its website includes items for sale which cost more than £150,000. In the run up to this action, GMB members have complained of being made to feel under pressure for taking part in lawful and visible union activity read more

Strike action begins at Crane Building Services and Utilities (11 May) – More than 100 workers at Crane Building Services and Utilities (BS&U) in Hitchin have started two weeks of strike action in a row over pay. Strikes will continue until Friday 22 May inclusive and stop manufacturing on the site. The workers, who are represented by GMB Union, voted 84 per cent in favour of strike action following frustrations around an unsatisfactory pay offer that has left them feeling undervalued. This vote marks the second time in two years that Crane BS&U workers have had to take industrial action to secure a decent pay award that matches their skills and experience read more

More than two hundred South London hospital staff to strike over cuts (5 May) – ‘Wards in disarray’ and ‘bad food’ facing three mental health sites for three days

GMB members working for OCS across three hospital sites within South London & Maudsley NHS Trust will take strike action between Wednesday 6 and Friday 8 May. More than 200 workers are expected to take action, who work in cleaning and catering at Maudsley Hospital, Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Ladywell Unit, Lewisham. Having been outsourced to OCS, the contract is now facing a proposed 2000 hours of cuts, which represents a drop in service provision of twenty per cent 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   

Turning up the heat on the government (4 Aug) – UNISON launches a campaign to protect workers against soaring temperatures. UNISON has launched a campaign to demand that the UK government creates new laws that require employers to protect workers from excessive heat. The action, as part of the union’s Year of Green Activity, comes as a series of heatwaves this summer has put many workers at risk as they perform their jobs in unsafe condition read more

NHS waiting lists set to soar as mental health pay dispute at Mind escalates (3 Aug) – Counsellors to stop doing work that charity claims it doesn’t do NHS waiting lists set to soar as mental health pay dispute at Mind escalates. Counsellors at mental health charity Mind are to stop providing patients with advanced-level care that the charity claims it doesn’t provide, says UNISON today. The union says the therapists at Norfolk & Waveney Mind have been forced to act because managers won’t recognise their specialist role. Staff have stopped delivering high-intensity sessions for new patients with depression and other conditions. The action represents an escalation in a dispute that has already resulted in the counsellors staging walkouts last year read more

Dispute over as Brighton museum staff back improved deal (31 July) – A new recognition agreement and continued protections for terms and conditions are secured by staff unions at Brighton Pavilion and Museums Trust read more

University of Essex staff vote to strike against cuts (31 July) – Professional services staff back walkouts to stop the loss of 400 jobs. Staff at the University of Essex have voted to strike over cuts to jobs and services, UNISON says today. Admissions advisors, IT techs, administrators and other professional services staff at the main campus in Colchester voted 84% in favour of strikes. In December, the university announced plans to axe 400 jobs and close the Southend campus — which shuts its doors today. Staff, local politicians and residents have all warned that the closure will be felt across south Essex, with people studying to become nurses, midwives, social workers or entrepreneurs no longer having the option to settle down in Southend. University leaders are now turning their attention to Colchester, says UNISON. The union warns the planned cost-cutting measures will undermine the quality of classes and leave students without proper support for their studies. Strike dates are expected to be announced in the coming weeks read more

NHS workers in Leeds to march on trust board in their campaign for fair pay (29 July) – The theatre assistants are currently on strike in their efforts to secure fair wages. Low-paid NHS workers in Leeds who play a key role in keeping patients safe during operations will lobby their health trust’s board as they step up their campaign for fair wages. Theatre assistants at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust are currently paid at the lowest grade of their NHS pay scale. But the workers regularly carry out clinical tasks UNISON says should be paid at a higher rate. These include supporting clinical teams during operations, assisting with specialist surgical equipment and helping patients with recovery after surgery. The theatre assistants are currently on strike over fair pay and grading. It’s the latest in a series of walkouts, the first of which took place in December 2025 read more

Leeds Teaching Hospital – National appeal request (24 July) – The dispute has now reached a stage where maintaining an effective and visible presence on picket lines is essential. The branch request to launch an appeal will enable the purchase of flags, banners, placards, and other campaign merchandise to enhance the visibility and impact of the industrial action. These resources are vital in demonstrating solidarity, raising public awareness, and encouraging support for members taking action. Currently all resources that are being used belong to the region, it was initially envisaged that this would be a quick dispute but unfortunately this is not the case read more

Critical Care staff win fair overtime pay at Northern Care Alliance (24 July) – Staff in Greater Manchester now have the option to be paid their fairly for the additional shifts they work. Critical Care staff at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) won fair overtime pay after UNISON members took industrial action to secure the rate they are contractually entitled last month. The agreement means Critical Care staff now have a choice: they can either take up additional shifts paid at the correct overtime rate of time-and-a-half, or continue to work them through NHS Professionals (NHSP). The breakthrough follows a determined campaign by UNISON members, who took several rounds of industrial action read more

Strike threat as Gloucestershire care workers call on council to halt transfer plans (21 July) – Gloucestershire County Council care staff will urge councillors not to move them to a private provider when they meet later today to scrutinise the plans read more

Donation Appeal for members on strike at Ash Field Academy (9 July) – Members at Ash Field Academy are taking strike action in defence of their rep, Tom Barker who was suspended after members at the school voted to strike on a previous dispute. The employer has allowed an investigation to be elongated, failed to provide detailed allegations and sought to undermine the collective strength of the union.  The members did not choose this fight — it was forced upon them — and they are showing remarkable courage in standing up for what is right. There have been discontinuous strike since April 2026, with the next scheduled dates taking place 6th to 9th July 2026.

  • Donations can be made via BACS transfer to the following:-

Bank: Unity Trust

Account name: UNISON Leicester City Branch

Account Number: 20059879

Sort Code: 60−83−01

Reference: Ash Field Strike Funds

Sign petition to: Paul Stone, CEO, Discovery Schools Academy Trust

Stop union-busting: protect union reps! Reinstate Tom Barker!

UNISON’s council and school members vote on pay strikes (9 July) – ‘There’s still time for employers to improve this pay offer and avoid a dispute’. Around 200,000 council and school workers at more than 500 employers across England and Wales begin voting today (Thursday) on whether to strike over pay, says UNISON. The ballot follows the union’s rejection of a 3.3% pay offer from local government employers, which UNISON says falls well short of restoring the value of staff pay after years of decline. Teaching assistants, social workers, waste collection staff, trading standards teams, housing officers and librarians are among those voting in the four-week ballot, which closes on Thursday 6 August. If workers back industrial action, walkouts could begin early in the autumn read more

Bedfordshire hospital staff to strike next week in overtime pay row (22 June) – NHS operating theatre staff in Bedfordshire will strike next week in a dispute about overtime pay, says UNISON today. Hospital workers say they will walk out on Thursday and Friday (25 and 26 June) unless managers reverse plans to cut pay for staff working extra hours. Workers employed by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bedford and Luton & Dunstable hospitals, are upset bosses have scrapped a payment worth up to £120 a shift for staff who work beyond their contracted weekly hours. The union says the payment is urging the trust to reverse its decision to bring overtime payments back in line with national agreements paying time and half for the extra shifts. In February, hospital bosses said they were switching to a system where staff doing extra hours had to take shifts paid at a flat rate. UNISON fears the change will lead to staff shortages and more cancelled operations read more

Sacked mining museum worker submits unfair dismissal claim (18 June) – Neil Williams was removed from his position as health and safety manager at the National Coal Mining Museum last Decemberread more

Children’s social care managers in Bath escalate strike action over pay and grading (14 May) – Workers will walk out from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 May. Bath and North East Somerset Council workers protesting in Bath. They’re holding placards. Children’s social care managers at Bath and North East Somerset Council are to strike for a further three days in an escalating dispute over pay and grading, says UNISON today (Thursday). Team managers and deputy team managers will walk out from Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 May. Workers at the local authority unanimously backed strike action following concerns about the council’s job regrading programme, says UNISON. Those affected by the scheme say it was imposed without proper consultation, and has left many on the wrong grade and underpaid. The union says the dispute comes at a time of wider upheaval in children’s services. In March, the council announced a restructure of which UNISON says has left staff facing further uncertainty read more

Defend Ameen Hadi and Salford City UNISON against the Far Right sign petition – ‘We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with trade unionist and lifelong anti racist campaigner Ameen Hadi. He has been placed under investigation by Salford City Council, following a malicious allegation, driven by far right YouTubers and Fascist Tommy Robinson, after a TOGETHER unity rally in Manchester on International Women’s Day’

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

NIPSA Condemns DAERA Threat of Pay Deductions Against Veterinary Staff Engaged in Lawful Industrial Action (29 July) – NIPSA has condemned DAERA’s decision to threaten pay deductions against veterinary staff participating in lawful Action Short of Strike (ASOS), describing the move as an unnecessary escalation of the ongoing dispute. The union was responding to correspondence issued by the Department on 22 July 2026 indicating that staff participating in elements of the industrial action could face deductions of up to 25% of their daily pay read more

NIPSA Report: Winning for Workers and Building on Our Success

NIPSA Annual Report 2025 ‘For Working Class Unity and a Socialist Economy’ is now available to download here

   

Royal College of Nursing     

RCN disappointed to see NHS pay process begin before talks conclude (16 July) – health secretary has written to the NHS Pay Review Body about pay for 2027/28 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

South Tyneside and Sunderland midwives vote overwhelmingly for strike action (19 June) – Midwives in South Tyneside and Sunderland have voted overwhelmingly for strike action to prevent being rostered on-call on their days off. In a ballot of impacted members that closed this week, 92 per cent of RCM members voted yes to strike action. The RCM has been in negotiations with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust for more than three years, seeking a solution that keeps maternity services safely staffed, without forcing midwives onto on-call shifts at busy times. The union has warned that the proposed on-call system is unsafe and unsustainable, risking increased burnout and damage to the recruitment and retention of midwives read more

SOR

NHS staff face worsening racist abuse following rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric, says Society of Radiographers (3 Aug) – A lack of guidelines for action following incidents of racism is hampering efforts to combat the issue read more

BMA

Politicians ignore doctors at their peril (4 Aug) – The Government needs consultants to run the NHS and only offering competitive rates of pay will retain them read more

Consultants demand talks following mandate to strike (7 July) – SAS doctors fall short of turnout threshold but vow to continue struggle for better remuneration read more

Northern Ireland Resident Doctors strike for better pay (29 June) – Primary and secondary care in Northern Ireland in dispute with government simultaneously. Resident doctor leaders accused Northern Ireland’s health minister of ‘burying his head in the sand’ as they prepared to go out on strike owing to pay erosion. A 24-hour walk-out began today at 7am today as resident doctors continue their battle for pay restoration. It follows a 24-hour strike (in the form of Christmas Day cover) by consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors in Northern Ireland on Thursday read more

Consultants and SAS doctors begin strike (24 June) – Senior doctors in Northern Ireland announce 24-hour strike owing to failure to meet agreement on better pay.  For the first time, consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors in Northern Ireland will go on strike today because of pay. The 24-hour strike takes the form of Christmas Day cover, which means most routine or elective work will be cancelled but emergencies will be treated and runs from 7am today until 6.59am tomorrow. Representatives of the Northern Ireland BMA consultants and SAS doctors’ committees will go to Stormont around lunchtime to meet the chair and deputy chair of the health committee to discuss the dispute read more

NEU

NEU snap poll confirms teachers are ready to take action on pay and funding (17 July) – In an online snap poll, conducted this week, teacher members of the National Education Union who work in maintained schools in England were asked their views of the government’s plan to only partially fund the pay offer of 3.5 per cent for 2026/27 and 3 per cent for 2027/28. NEU pressure to date has resulted in the government shifting ground, from an unfunded to partially funded pay offer, and to an offer of 6.5 per cent over two years rather than three. However, the government expects schools to find ‘efficiencies’ in their budgets to cover the remaining 1.1 per cent of the pay offer for 2026/27, which amounts to £460 million. Heads were informed of this on 1 July, leaving little time to plan budgets. A snap poll of NEU members, conducted this week, found strong support for action on pay and funding read more

Judge orders reinstatement for dismissed NEU Rep at the centre of on-going dispute at renowned London Hospital School (8 July) – On Friday 3 July, Kate Williams – dismissed NEU rep at the centre of the long running dispute at The Hospital School at GOSH and UCLH – was awarded Interim Relief by the judge presiding over her hearing. The decision made by Judge Davidson, at the Interim Relief Hearing, has meant that the Board of Governors at The Hospital School at GOSH and UCLH have been instructed to reinstate Kate paying her full salary until her full Employment Tribunal is heard. Kate Williams was dismissed by her employer in March 2026 following a disciplinary hearing overseen by Camden HR. Her dismissal followed her suspension from the workplace, 8-months earlier, in July 2025, after she raised concerns about chaotic and bullying management. Prior to her suspension, Kate had taught at the specialist setting for nearly 15 years with an unblemished record. Three senior staff remain suspended after also attempting to raise concerns and for their trade union activity. The Deputy and two Assistant Heads – who have a combined 30 years of service at the setting – have been suspended from the workplace since 24 October 2025. This was the day after Camden NEU submitted a collective grievance on behalf of 15 of their members. The school has lost approximately a combined 100 years of specialist hospital school experience through resignations, dismissals, and suspensions since a new headteacher took post in September 2024 read more

NASUWT   

    

EIS   

Lecturers take fourth day of strike action at Glasgow Caledonian University over job cuts (4 Aug) – Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association (EIS ULA) at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) take their fourth day of strike action (Tuesday, 4th August 2026). The walkout forms part of an escalating dispute over university management’s proposals to cut up to 100 staff jobs and its continued refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies. Following three initial strike days held in late June and early July, academic staff are returning to the Cowcaddens Road campus picket line to continue opposing management’s redundancy plans. The EIS ULA action will be taken alongside colleagues from the University and College Union (UCU), who are also taking strike action at GCU tomorrow read more

EIS Lodges New Dispute with City of Glasgow College over Management and Culture (30 June) – The EIS has lodged a new dispute with City of Glasgow College (CoGC) over the management style and institutional culture within the college. The EIS believes that the culture and ethos of CoGC is having a detrimental impact on the health, wellbeing, professionalism, operational effectiveness and morale of lecturing staff read more

INTO

Public service unions to prepare strike ballots as no basis for pay talks is established (3 July) – The INTO’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) will meet next week to discuss a decision taken by the ICTU Public Services Committee on 3 July. The Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) today confirmed that its 19 affiliated unions – including the INTO – will convene their national executive bodies to prepare for potential industrial action ballots, following the failure to establish a basis for talks on a new public service pay agreement read more

NITC Lodges Dispute with Department of Education over Teacher Workload Response (12 May) – On 28 April the Minister published his response to the report from the Independent Panel on Teacher Workload. NITC met with the Minister and a range of representatives to discuss the response. The five teaching unions then met with their executive bodies and took comment from members regarding the report. Subsequently, the concerns which were expressed from members right across the system were compiled into a document for consideration by the Minister and the Department. The plan as it currently stands is simply not acceptable to the NITC. Members were informed on Tuesday 5 May that NITC submitted the letter detailing the concerns and requested a reply by Monday 11 May. No reply was received with DE indicating that we may receive a response next week. NITC as a whole, and each constituent union, took the decision in the absence of a response on the date requested, to lodge a dispute with the Department of Education. These actions were taken today. The dispute relates to the failure of the Department of Education to publish a plan which is capable of fully implementing the recommendations from the Independent Review of Teacher Workload read more

UCU     

UCU Stop the Cuts campaign  

Sign petition against the education cuts  

Glasgow Caledonian University strike today over jobs (4 Aug) – Members of UCU at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) today are striking today over job cuts and the threat of possible compulsory redundancies. Today’s strike follows on from two days of well supported strike action earlier in the summer and follows a ballot where members supported strike action by 79% with a turnout of 69%. Members are also taking part in action short of strike by working to contract, not undertaking voluntary duties or covering for absent colleagues. Striking staff will be on picket lines at GCU as they attempt to save jobs at the university. The strike is over proposals, announced in March, by senior managers to cut up to 100 posts despite the university not being in deficit, holding healthy cash reserves and having a lean staff to student ratio compared to many other universities. While the university sector across Scotland is facing challenges the union said that GCU was in a very strong financial position read more

Sunderland University attacks pensions with 2-tier workforce (31 July) – The University of Sunderland is set to deny newly appointed academic tutors access to the industry standard Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) from tomorrow, UCU announced. New tutors will be employed through a sham company, wholly owned by the university, so it can avoid having them on its books. All directly employed academics can access TPS meaning the changes will create a two-tier workforce. Management claims it is attacking pension benefits because it needs to make savings, but admits it is likely to only save a maximum of £36k during the next academic year. The changes are being brought in just weeks after the Government confirmed employer TPS contribution rates will fall by more than a third. UCU estimates this will save Sunderland over £3m each year from April 2027 read more

College pay must rise to attract staff who will teach 22,000 extra students (29 July) – UCU called on the government to match its ambitious plans for further education with additional funding for staff and cautioned against increased workloads. The union was responding to the Government’s announcement of a new further education bursary and expanded college places read more

Government education plan can only work with serious investment, says UCU (28 July) – UCU said its members stand ready to support the Government’s new technical education proposals as long as they are delivered alongside a significant funding boost read more

Five-week strike at Dundee University starting in September (16 July) – Five weeks strike action from 21 September. Lobby of court today, 12.30pm at the Bonar Hall, Nethergate, Dundee. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Dundee University will strike for 25 days over five weeks at the start of the new academic year in a long running dispute over cuts and job losses including compulsory redundancies. Staff at the university will be on strike each weekday from Monday 21 September through to Friday 23 October, meaning the strike will last for the first five weeks of the new term.  As well as taking strike action, staff will also be taking part in action short of strike which will include action such as not covering for colleagues or undertaking voluntary activities read more

Graduation chaos at London South Bank as marking boycott & strikes hit exams (13 July) – Staff at London South Bank University (LSBU) began a marking and assessment boycott today and will strike during the crucial exam resit week, from Monday 20 to Friday 24 July. UCU members are taking the action in a fight against fire and rehire tactics being used by university bosses to bypass collective bargaining. The boycott, which will hit graduations, covers all marking and assessment, including online and in-person. It also covers assessment-related work such as exam invigilation and the administrative processing of marks. Likewise, the strike will impact students’ ability to resit exams. LSBU management plans to terminate the contracts of all academic members of staff and pit them against each other in a sham redundancy selection process. It then wants to rehire them onto two separate tracks, ‘teaching and research’ (‘T&R’) and ‘teaching and scholarship’ (T&S), and intends to increase working time without any corresponding pay rise. All new T&S staff would be employed through a sham company to deny them access to the industry standard Teachers’ Pension Scheme and leave them outside the national pay framework. UCU believes the cuts will seriously impact the university’s nursing and midwifery provision, which would have knock-on effects on nursing throughout London’s hospitals. LSBU educates one in four of the city’s nurses. UCU has called on university management to urgently get round the negotiating table and work to resolve the dispute so students can graduate. Last week, politicians wrote to university regulator the Office for Students over the unprecedented scale of the cuts and staff have also unanimously backed a motion of no confidence in the vice-chancellor read more

Lincoln Uni strike ballot looms as over 140 staff put at risk (3 July) – The University of Lincoln has put more than 140 staff at risk of redundancy and could axe them as soon as next month. The union said it will be forced to launch a strike ballot if management continues with the plans, which would see more than 34 staff go across the schools of humanities and heritage, engineering and physical sciences, social and political sciences, chemistry, geography, and design and architecture, as well as the Lincoln international business school. Management says the cuts are needed to match student demand, but they come after staff overwhelmingly backed a no confidence vote against the vice-chancellor and senior leadership team over their poor leadership of the university, including more than one in three staff leaving over recent redundancy rounds and damaging the quality of teaching and research read more

University of Sussex strike ballot opens over threat to axe hundreds of staff (1 July) – Staff at the University of Sussex are being asked to vote yes for strike action in a ballot that opened today and will run until Thursday 13 August. The ballot is over plans to cut 200 jobs and comes after more than 600 staff were put at risk of redundancy across academic, technical and professional services departments. Management says it needs to save £35m in annual costs due to a fall in student numbers and has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies despite more than 500 staff having already left Sussex over the past two years. Sussex UCU is putting forward proposals that would avoid the need for compulsory redundancies, protect jobs and support student learning. These include allowing staff to volunteer to move part-time and working to bring down the amount spent on the pay of senior management. Senior management’s pay bill is over £3m a year, and over the last few years new senior managerial roles have been created while staff have been taken out of frontline teaching read more

Strike ballot looms at Macclesfield College as staff reject lowball pay offer (30 June) – Macclesfield College staff have overwhelmingly voted to reject a pay offer worth just 1.5% in year and backed strike action in a fight for fair wages. In an online ballot, UCU members at the college overwhelmingly voted by 95% to reject the low-ball award and indicated they are prepared to strike if the college does not come back with a decent offer. Macclesfield initially made an offer of just 2%, lower than any other college in the region, well below inflation and the 4% recommended by the college’s employer body, the Association of Colleges. Management belatedly made a further offer of 3%, but refuse to backdate it to August, meaning it is only worth 1.5% in year. Despite offering staff a real term pay cut the college has a forecasted surplus of over £650,000, generated through the hard work of UCU members. The college is due to be taken over by Cheshire College South and West on Saturday 1 August (2026) meaning staff could be striking within weeks of the college’s takeover read more

University of Nottingham condemned after latest attempt to end industrial action (19 June) – University and College Union (UCU) has today (Friday 19 June) condemned University of Nottingham management for their lack of willingness to help resolve the current dispute. UCU officials met with University of Nottingham management yesterday in a bid to end the ongoing dispute over large-scale job cuts, course closures and workload concerns. UCU had earlier this week provided potential further savings and a more detailed financial counterproposal to the employer’s plans and on top of the number of staff who may leave voluntarily. With graduations in just a few weeks, this was the ideal time to seek a resolution read more

Staff at Northumbria University to be balloted for strike action in job cuts row (18 June) – UCU has today formally declared a dispute with Northumbria University and will ballot members over potential strike action. The dispute is in response to management plans to slash around 1 in 10 jobs before Christmas, across Geography and Natural Sciences; Engineering, Physics & Maths; Humanities; Theatre & Performance; and Design departments.  Management has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. The £5 million cuts follow an already damaging restructure, plans to push staff out of pension schemes and the folly of expensive building projects, including a £2.5m Centre for Writing which would house some of those staff who survive the cull. The move to a dispute and potential strike action follows votes of no confidence in both the senior executives and the Board of Governors read more

Global academic boycott imposed on University of Sheffield over job cuts & pay docking (4 June) – The University of Sheffield has just been hit with the ultimate sanction of a global academic boycott by the biggest higher education union in the UK read more

UCU responds to threat of over 100 job cuts at Aberdeen University (29 May) – Speaking following the announcement from the University of Aberdeen that it plans to make over 100 job cuts, UCU Aberdeen co-chair Dan Cutts said: ‘This is absolutely devastating for the workforce. There is a lot of anger, distress and worry amongst our members who have been working tirelessly to support their students. Our members are baffled as to why senior management are choosing to make these drastic job cuts when the university’s financial situation has improved and they report we are in surplus. Management plans are illogical and will be damaging to the student experience here at Aberdeen University. UCU will be gauging the feelings of our membership over the next few days and there is no doubt that our union will be fighting back against these devastating cuts.’ Read more

Ten-day strike at Aberdeen University starts today (13 Apr)

Indefinite strike action to begin Monday 8 June over Goldsmiths lockout (29 May) – Staff will commence an indefinite strike on Monday 8 June at Goldsmiths, University of London. The union said the imposition of 100% pay deductions for participation in action short of strike is an effective lockout, and staff will refuse to work because management refuses to pay them. UCU began a marking boycott, as part of its action short of strike, on Monday 27 April, refusing to mark all work and assessments in a fight to protect jobs. Management responded by threatening to dock 100% of pay even if staff continue to complete all their other duties, including teaching, research and recruitment. The employer confirmed its intention to dock pay from Friday 22 May, ahead of a bank holiday weekend, and UCU has now responded by giving notice for indefinite strike action beginning Monday 8 June. Worryingly, university management has also reportedly issued an ultimatum to students, threatening to ban them from campus for protesting in solidarity with staff. Currently 269 professional services staff and academics are in scope of redundancy, more than one in five of the 1,230 strong workforce. Further academic staff cuts are also slated to start from September. This is the third round of redundancies at Goldsmiths in the last five years, and these cuts are going ahead despite close to £24m being saved in the two previous rounds read more

Union condemns University of Sussex threat of compulsory redundancies (29 May) – UCU has condemned the University of Sussex management’s threat to cut 200 jobs, with around 600 staff placed at risk of redundancy. The threatened job losses form part of a £35m cuts programme following a fall in student recruitment. UCU Sussex, along with sister branches UNISON and UNITE, has written to vice-chancellor Sasha Roseneil demanding that compulsory redundancies be ruled out until Saturday 31 July 2027. UCU said it would fight any threat of compulsory redundancies read more

Staff at Queen Margaret University vote for strike action (22 May) – Staff at Queen Margaret University (QMU) have voted for strike action in a dispute over jobs cuts, compulsory redundancies and changes to working practices. University and College Union (UCU) Scotland members at the university voted by 92% to back strike action on a turnout of 67%.  Action short of strike, which could involve working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues or voluntary activities, was also backed by 96% of members voting.  Members of the branch will now decide their next steps in the dispute. Senior managers at QMU are looking to make savings of £4million in staffing costs this academic year and in 2027/28 and have refused to rule out the possibility of compulsory redundancies.  On top of the job cuts, management also proposed cutting research and scholarship time for academic staff.  Research-led teaching is recognised universally as the benchmark across higher education and the union argues that any step backwards on this would harm the university read more

First day of summer of strikes begins at Heriot-Watt University (14 May) – University and College Union Scotland members at Heriot-Watt University will today begin the first of six strike days across May and June. Today’s strike takes place as the university court, the university’s highest decision-making body, meets to consider future strategy.  UCU members will also take strike action in June unless management take steps to resolve the dispute before then.  Staff are striking over plans to cut jobs in the university’s Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies and the potential closure, including possible compulsory redundancies, of the successful Scholar programme which delivers online learning in schools.  Members backed strike action by 74% on a 70% turnout and took nine days of strike action strike action earlier in the Spring read more

Four strike days begin tomorrow at Capital City College Group over workload issues (11 May) – Staff at Capital City College Group (CCCG) begin four consecutive days of strike action tomorrow after the employer failed to meaningfully negotiate over workload concerns. UCU members will be on picket lines each strike day (Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13, Thursday 14, and Friday 15 May) from 8am across the eight college sites. The dispute is over excessive workloads, and the action comes after CCCG failed to meaningfully progress workload issues after belatedly meeting with the union last week, in response to the strike threat (Wednesday 6 May). Prior to that meeting, management had failed to meet with the union over workload concerns since January (when inadequate notice was given to UCU reps of the meeting date), despite committing to two further meetings before the Easter break. UCU demands include increased tutorial time, more support for students with special educational needs, and additional student wellbeing staff read more

Outrage as DfE hire refuses national recommendation to raise pay (5 May) – Staff at Windsor Forest Colleges Group (WFCG) will strike tomorrow (Wednesday 6 May) as they continue to fight for fair pay. College principal Gillian May is now set to leave at the end of the month to take up a senior post, as deputy commissioner for further education, at the Department for Education. Despite holding down her own staff’s pay, she has accepted a 7.8% increase to her own salary of over £10,000. The group runs four colleges across Berkshire and Surrey: Slough and Langley College, Windsor College, Strode’s College, and the Berkshire College of Agriculture. Staff have already taken five days of action and are asking for a fair pay award. WFCG has refused to even meet the 4% pay award recommended by the Association of Colleges, unlike every other college in the region read more

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

     

FBU   

After hundreds of firefighters rallied outside Kent County Council this morning, Kent CFO backtracked on plans to close Grain fire station (4 Aug) – The FBU welcome this, but the fight isn’t over. Four stations and 63 firefighter jobs remain under threat. The service still plans to axe 11 appliances at night, and 6 in the day. A decision will be made by the fire authority on Thursday. Until the cuts are abandoned, industrial action is not off the table read more on FBU Facebook page

Firefighters to rally against Kent Fire and Rescue Service cuts (3 Aug) – Kent firefighters will rally on Tuesday against huge cuts proposed by the local fire and rescue service, in a protest organised by the Fire Brigades Union. 63 firefighter posts are due to be cut, along with six fire engines being removed and five fire stations closed. The plans put forward by Kent Fire and Rescue Service management will target rural communities with the closure of stations at Chilham, Wye, Cliffe, Grain, and Westerham. Fire engines will also be removed from Tunbridge Wells, Faversham, Herne Bay, and Deal, while Thames-Side and Dartford will each lose one engine overnight. The cuts represent the latest assault on a service the FBU says has already been stripped to the bone. Since 2010, Kent Fire and Rescue Service has lost 462 firefighter posts. The union warns that removing further roles will critically undermine emergency response across the county read more

FBU launches national ‘Cuts Kill’ campaign – Our fire and rescue service is stretched to breaking point. The demands on firefighters are rising fast, with climate change creating more extreme wildfires, flooding and severe weather. Yet the service responsible for protecting us is being asked to do more with less. For over a decade, deep cuts have hollowed out the service. Across the country, fire engines are arriving at emergencies without enough crew on board to respond and save lives. Some engines aren’t leaving the fire station at all because there simply aren’t enough firefighters to staff them. Response times are getting longer every year. And in an emergency, every second counts. Cuts kill. Firefighters and communities have raised the alarm repeatedly, but those warnings have been brushed aside while politicians made decisions that stripped vital resources from the frontline. After 14 years of cuts and austerity, it’s time to draw a line in the sand… Join the fight

This fight is for every job, every station and every community. Wherever they try to force through more cuts, we must stand together and push back. Write to your MP and call on them to sign the Early Day Motion demanding investment in the fire and rescue service

POA     

General Secretary update read more

National Chair update July 2026 read here  

NEC minutes July 2026 read more

POA Members Survey 2026 (1 Aug) – POA Members are reminded of Annual Conference Motion 67/2022 which stated; That Conference reaffirms current policy as set out in ACM 42/10 and continues not to engage in any staff survey conducted by the employer due to the attitude of HMPPS and the political spin placed on outcomes. Furthermore, this Union continues with the policy of non-participation in any future HMPPS surveys and instead conducts its own survey to act as a direct contrast. The Motion was carried and is still Policy of the POA. The National Executive Committee are asking all POA members within Public Sector Prisons in England and Wales to refuse to participate in the Annual Staff Survey and instead fill in the bespoke POA Survey that asks the questions HMPPS are refusing to ask read more

Urgent action needed to end endemic prison violence (31 July) – The union representing the UK’s 35,000 Prison Officers is calling for urgent action to address prison violence. The call came following the publication of the latest Safety in Custody statistics from the Ministry of Justice in England and Wales read more

POA calls for trade union solidarity as Guernsey prison officers continue industrial action (29 July) – The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) has expressed its full support and solidarity with Prison Officers at Les Nicolles Prison in Guernsey who are currently undertaking industrial action in response to long-standing concerns over pay, staffing, recruitment, retention and increasing workplace pressures. The POA has become aware that retired Prison Officers are being actively recruited through a private agency to undertake temporary roles at Guernsey Prison during the ongoing dispute. The Union believes these appointments are intended to provide operational cover while Prison Officers are engaged in lawful industrial action. The POA is calling on retired Prison Officers not to apply for, accept or facilitate temporary appointments which would undermine the legitimate industrial action being taken by their colleagues read more

Industrial action by prison officers at Les Nicolles facility, Guernsey (29 July) – The Union has been made aware that a post has been made on social media regarding temporary deployment of retired Prison Officers to Guernsey for an initial period of three months with possibility of an extension. The social media page is unofficial, and has no connection to the POA. Investigo Government Solutions (IGS Secure) is seeking applicants for temporary Prison Officer vacancies at Guernsey Prison read more

Right to strike campaign – further action (5 June) – POA Circular 033/2026 asked members to contact their local MP and request their support for the POA’s Right to Strike Campaign. If you have received a response from your MP, whether positive or negative, please forward it to [email protected]. This is part of a simple but powerful campaign that will send a clear message that Prison Officers must have their right to strike restored read more

NAPO

Napo Press Release: union speaks out about early releases changes (4 July) – Napo have said since the early releases were first announced that there should be more exemptions to ensure public protection is achievable. As such the new exemptions are welcome but do not address the real issues of public protection and safe releases read more

The ballot is open. Your voice matters (10 July) – The indicative ballot on workloads is now open. You will be receiving an email from [email protected] with your unique electronic ballot paper shortly. We have created a dedicated webpage with all the information you will need throughout the campaign and we encourage you to visit it regularly read more

Detailed Probation Pay Claim Submitted (26 June) – The Probation Trade Unions have now formally submitted the detailed 2026–27 pay claim to senior HMPPS management, marking the next stage in our campaign to secure the pay, recognition and respect that probation staff deserve. This follows the opening of ‘without prejudice’ discussions earlier this month. Further talks will take place throughout July and August and Napo remains absolutely clear: members must have a pay offer to consider before 1 September read more

BFAWU     

Man, 22, dies after fall from fish farming support vessel (28 July) – Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary: As a union we are devastated to hear about the death of a young man whilst at work in the fish farming industry. Sarah Woolley, General Secretary of the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, commented on the tragic death of a salmon worker who fell from a salmon farming workboat: ‘As a trade union representing workers across the salmon industry in Scotland we want to pass on our condolences to the family of the worker who tragically died on Friday. No worker should leave for work and never return to their loved ones. Our hearts go out to this young worker and all those who loved him. We need to learn more before commenting on the specifics of this tragic death. But what we will say is how for well over a year we have been raising concerns about the general state of health and safety in the salmon industry and our belief that this industry plays fast and loose with its workforce’s health and safety. The death of this young man confirms we were right to raise these concerns. Make no mistake this tragic death hardens our resolve to campaign for improvements in the salmon industry.’ Read more

Spring Foodworker 2025 read more

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

NUJ   

NUJ welcomes PSNI’s renewed Lyra McKee appeal (31 July) – The NUJ has welcomed the renewed appeal by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for information about the murder of journalist Lyra McKee read more

Reach chapel calls for an end to devastating cycle of redundancies (29 July) – The NUJ Reach Group chapel has passed a motion calling for the Reach plc board to stop mass redundancies across the company after a poor financial statement. On 28 July, the Reach Group chapel met to discuss the half-year figures released on 22 July which show that group revenue is down 9% (£23.1m) so far this year, with digital revenues badly hit and down 11.4%. Reps reflected that members were feeling frustrated and demoralised and that they were carrying the can for corporate failure read more

NUJ welcomes victory for Vincent Kearney in state surveillance tribunal (23 July) – The NUJ has welcomed a decision by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) to order MI5 and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to pay £20,000 in damages to journalist and union member Vincent Kearney over sustained unlawful surveillance read more

Mirror Group Newspapers chapel pay tribute to Watford print site workers (23 July) – The NUJ’s Mirror Group Newspapers chapel have paid tribute to workers at the newspaper printing site in Watford. In February, Reach announced the closure of its printing sites in Watford and Saltire, Scotland as part of a ‘cost-saving drive’. The Watford printing plant, which once employed more than 2,000 workers, published its final copies of the Daily Mirror on Sunday. Staff marked the end of the printing plant with a leaving party near the site of the old Mirror offices in Holborn Circus on 22 July. This coincides with the release of Reach’s bleak mid year financial results, indicating more cuts are to be expected read more

NUJ branches and chapels oppose devastating BBC cuts (23 July) – NUJ Birmingham & Coventry branch and the Financial Times chapel have passed motions expressing solidarity with BBC workers and calling on the government to oppose largescale cuts read more

NUJ warns Reach to end culture of cuts after poor financial statement (22 July) – The NUJ has warned that the continued “haemorrhaging of jobs” across Reach puts the publisher’s financial future at risk and will further harm staff morale, with the company announcing more proposed cuts read more

Equity

“Grossly unfair” that performers are left unpaid – Leicester Comedy Festival operator filing for insolvency (5 Aug) – Equity responds as Leicester Comedy Festival operator files for insolvency read more

Opera singers demand better pay and work-life balance as negotiations begin (30 July) – Opera singers are demanding improved pay, work-life balance and clarity of their terms and conditions. Negotiations between Equity represented by a working group of members together with union officials, and UK Theatre/SOLT – the trade body representing producers across the UK and in London – are set to begin, after we submitted our claim today. We are demanding improvements to the agreement that sets minimum standards on pay, terms and conditions for opera singers, and covers principals, covers and freelance singers working in UK Theatre/SOLT member opera companies. The claim, submitted to UK Theatre/SOLT this week, calls for improved weekly pay – especially to support the lowest paid and to reflect changing performance patterns in the industry. It also includes demands for improved notice of scheduling for a better work-life balance and family friendly working, and calls for clearer terms and conditions for artists and engagers read more

Equity members accept new three-year West End Agreement (30 July) – Equity members have voted to accept a new three-year agreement with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), covering pay and conditions for performers and stage management working in the West End. The agreement, which runs from April 2026 to April 2029, was approved by 98% of members voting, on a turnout of 75%. Under the agreement, minimum rates will rise by at least 13.5% over three years. It also improves holiday entitlement and family leave, supports better work-life balance, strengthens equality and inclusion provisions, and recognises additional responsibilities read more

Equity Victory in Antrim Small Claims Court (23 July) – Cancellation Fees Upheld Again. In an important win for Equity members in Northern Ireland, Antrim small claims court has upheld a group of members’ right to be paid when their work over Halloween was cancelled at short notice. Equity took the case on behalf of 7 members and says the outcome is an important reminder to engagers that they should not “try to shirk their responsibility for paying artists’ fees”. This dispute was brought by a group of freelance workers who were booked by engager the Hedges Hotel in October 2025 to provide several nights of ‘fright night’ style performances during the Halloween season.  Actors were informed on very short notice that the entire event was cancelled.  The event subsequently went ahead in a different format, setting out that no actors would be used read more

Equity joins call on Government to restore arts subjects’ status (22 July) – Equity has joined leading arts and education organisations in calling on the Government to ensure the arts are a “fundamental part of every child’s school experience”. Alongside organisations including the Royal College of Art, the Chartered College of Teaching, the Musicians’ Union and the National Education Union, Equity has co-signed a statement to the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, coordinated by the Arts and Minds Campaigns read more

Musicians Union

Three Things New Prime Minister Andy Burnham Could Do for Music and Musicians Now (24 July) – As new Prime Minister Andy Burnham takes office, here are three things he can do to support music and musicians right now read more

New Agreement with Northern Ballet Covered by BBC Radio 4’s Front Row (23 July) – Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Front Row about the Union’s new collective agreement with Northern Ballet read more

Sign the Petition to Protect the BBC’s Future (3 July) – A collective of arts, entertainment and broadcast unions, including the Musicians’ Union, have launched a joint petition to protect the future of the BBC read more

Community

Union recognition secured for GXO Warehouse Operatives in Crick (3 Aug) – We are proud to announce that we have signed a formal recognition agreement with GXO Logistics UK Limited, meaning GXO now formally recognises Community to represent, consult and negotiate on behalf of Warehouse Operatives based at the Crick site in Northamptonshire read more

Recognition secured at GXO B&Q Wellingborough (27 July) – We are proud to announce that we have signed a formal recognition agreement with GXO B&Q Wellingborough, meaning GXO now formally recognises Community to represent, consult, and negotiate on behalf of our members working at the site. The agreement comes into effect from 1st February 2026, with the first annual pay review commencing 1st October 2026 read more

Community signs recognition agreement with the University of Chichester Academy Trust (23 July) – We are excited to announce that we have signed a recognition agreement with the University of Chichester Academy Trust. This recognition agreement gives Community a formal seat at the table to negotiate on our members’ behalf and make sure their voices are heard in the decisions that affect them. It also provides a clear, legally backed mandate for Community to represent, protect and campaign for members across the Trust’s academies read more

USDAW

Usdaw statement on sale of Argos and its members in stores (31 July) – Sainsbury’s agree to sell Argos read more

Usdaw welcomes Government inquiry into the death of Zane Gbangbola (23 July) – Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the government’s announcement of a non-statutory inquiry into the death of Zane Gbangbola, following 12 years of determined campaigning by his family read more

UVW   

Butlin’s Resort safety officers demand safer holidays and warn of strike ballot (16 July) – “We work 12-hour shifts dealing with violence, aggression, lost children and medical emergencies to keep families safe — yet we’re understaffed, unsupported and taken for granted” – Alan Riley, Butlin’s Resort Safety Officer and UVW member. As Butlin’s celebrates its 90th anniversary, Resort Safety Officers at its Bognor Regis resort have launched a campaign demanding safer working conditions, fair pay and greater investment in the workers responsible for protecting thousands of holidaymakers every year. The officers, all members of United Voices of the World (UVW), have presented Butlin’s management with seven demands for a safe, secure and fair workplace. They have given the company seven days to respond, warning that failure to address their concerns could lead to further action, including a ballot for industrial action read more

Migrant cleaners at South London school Ark Globe Academy vote for strike action (30 June) – Outsourced migrant cleaners, members of United Voices of the World (UVW), at Ark Globe Academy in South London have voted unanimously to take strike action after months of campaigning to restore the full London Living Wage and address persistent payroll issues. Every worker who participated in the ballot voted YES for industrial action, giving a 100% mandate to strike. The cleaners, employed by subcontractor Atlas Cleaning Limited, won the London Living Wage in 2020 and have consistently received it over the past five years. However, from 1 April 2026 they were given only a partial uplift to £14.27 per hour, marking the first time the full annual increase has not been implemented.  Months of payroll errors and delayed wage corrections have also left many workers struggling to pay rent, bills and other essential living costs. Atlas Cleaning Limited has told UVW that it cannot fully implement the 2026 London Living Wage increase because of contractual arrangements with Ark Globe Academy. The school told UVW that it decided “to pause alignment to the Real Living Wage for this financial year” due to wider financial pressures across the organisation and education sector…The cleaners’ campaign has attracted growing support from the local community, including National Education Union (NEU) members, teachers across Southwark, and residents; Green Party councillors have also backed the workers’ call for fair pay and treatment read more

Migrant cleaner takes Hackney council to court for discrimination and breach of contract (29 Apr) – “I have felt bullied despite giving 100 percent of myself at work. It is not fair that at the slightest issue, workers can be made to feel belittled and pushed out as though they are worth nothing” – Maryori Pacheco Masias, UVW member. “I have felt bullied despite giving 100 percent of myself at work. It is not fair that at the slightest issue, workers can be made to feel belittled and pushed out as though they are worth nothing” – Maryori Pacheco Masias, UVW member. A migrant cleaner is taking legal action against Hackney Council, alleging bullying, harassment, and discrimination after her working conditions were abruptly changed, leaving her in financial hardship read more

Solidarity Financial Appeal: UVW’s office was targeted in a break-in! – in January 2025, 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

Rockstar workers launch bid for union recognition following mass firings (30 Nov) – Workers at Rockstar Games have submitted a request for voluntary recognition of the IWGB Game Workers Union, in a move that could make the studio the second UK games studio with a recognised union. If successful, the recognition would follow IWGB members at ZA/UM, who became the first workers in the UK games industry to achieve union recognition in October 2025. Workers in the UK have the right to join a union and organise without formal recognition, but recognition gives members additional protections and rights, and opens formal channels for collective bargaining with management read more

RCA cleaners fired after protesting sexual harassment and workplace abuse (13 May) – Two cleaners at the Royal College of Art have been dismissed after taking part in a letter hand-in protest over alleged workplace abuse and sexual harassment, involving supervisors employed by the university’s cleaning subcontractor, PfP Students. The workers, who are members of the IWGB Union, say they are being victimised for speaking out about harassment and safety concerns in the workplace read more

SIPTU (Ireland)   

SIPTU supports workers’ boycott of Israel fixtures and calls on Government to cancel games (30 July) – SIPTU has reaffirmed that it will continue to support any member who, on grounds of conscience, refuses to participate in the hosting, servicing or facilitation of the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures involving the Irish and Israeli national football teams. At the launch of ‘Stop the Game’ website at the Whistleblower Cafe in Dublin SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said: “Our Union’s position has been clear and consistent. When facing an attempt by a regime to sportswash a genocide, workers have a right to act in accordance with their conscience and should not face disciplinary action or disadvantage for holding to a position supported by most Irish people read more

SIPTU says attack on Dublin Bus driver highlights need for a Transport Police Service (30 July) – SIPTU representatives say an attack on a Dublin Bus driver and Union member last Thursday afternoon on Bachelor’s Walk in Dublin city centre highlights the pressing need for the Government to fulfil its commitment to establish a Transport Police Service read more

SIPTU welcomes progress at WRC with St Joseph’s Centre dispute (28 July) – SIPTU has welcomed progress at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today (Tuesday, 28th July) between the Union and St Joseph’s Centre, Shankill, concerning a pay dispute. As a result of constructive engagement between the parties, a set of proposals has been put forward to address a dispute involving the pay rates of household staff. As a result of the progress made, planned strike action for this week has been called off to allow SIPTU members to ballot on the proposals. Both parties have agreed to remain committed to maintaining a constructive working relationship into the future read more

Summer Economic Statement puts fiscal squeeze on public services and erodes living standards (22 July) – SIPTU representatives have expressed serious and deep concerns following the publication of the Government’s Summer Economic Statement, warning the significantly reduced fiscal package will squeeze public services, erode members’ living standards and leave the public finances dangerously exposed. The Union highlighted despite persistent inflation, a growing population, and ageing demographics, the overall fiscal package is substantially lower than last year’s, signalling a potential suppression of public spending when resources are needed most read more

SIPTU to ballot public service members on strike action over Government inaction on pay talks (6 July) – SIPTU has today (Monday, 6th July) launched nationwide workplace consultations in preparation for strike ballots involving tens of thousands of members across the public service over the coming weeks, following the Government’s failure to begin meaningful negotiations on a successor public service agreement. The previous agreement, which expired on 30th June, covered more than 80,000 SIPTU members across the public service. SIPTU said the lack of meaningful engagement is not tenable given the enduring cost-of-living crisis experienced by workers, and that the absence of an agreement is creating unnecessary uncertainty for workers and services read more

SIPTU members in RTÉ vote for industrial action to prevent further outsourcing (3 June) – SIPTU members employed in RTÉ have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action if there is any further outsourcing of production or roles at the national broadcaster. In a ballot, the results of which were released today (Tuesday, 2nd June), the vote was 85% to 15% in favour of proposals for industrial action if management attempts to implement any further outsourcing of roles and production responsibilities. SIPTU organises approximately 600 RTÉ staff carrying out a wide variety of roles read more

SIPTU healthcare workers to begin strike action over pay failure (11 May) – SIPTU members of Blanchardstown and Inner-City Home Care will commence strike action on Tuesday (12th May) for failure by management to fully implement the 2023 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Agreement. Within the agreement, SIPTU members were to receive an 8% pay increase backdated to 1st April 2023. However, Blanchardstown and Inner City Home Care have failed to fully implement these increases or provide any of the outstanding money owed read more

Strike action set at STERIS Tullamore in union recognition dispute (10 May) – SIPTU members employed by STERIS AST in Tullamore, County Offaly have served notice of strike action on their employer, in a dispute resulting from management at the contract sterilisation and lab testing facility’s refusal to engage with their Union on issues including sick leave and pay. SIPTU members will conduct work stoppages commencing at 8.00am on Friday, 15th May, and concluding at 8.00am on Saturday, 16th May 2026. During this time, pickets will be placed at the entrance to the plant read more

  

Other news     

Lucas Plan 50th Anniversary Celebration – REGISTER HERE. AN IDEA WHOSE TIME MUST COME! A conference for trade union, left, green, peace, community activists and students and academics. Nov 21st 2026 at University Place, Manchester FREE – REGISTER NOW

Sign this petition: Protect the Residents of St James Estate in Southwark, South London – We, the undersigned, call on Southwark Council to take urgent action to protect residents of the St James Estate from eviction, excessive rent increases, and housing insecurity. More than 100 families, including many who were previously homeless or housing insecure, face eviction from a long-established community they have called home for up to 35 years, risking homelessness and placing further strain on overstretched housing services  St. James Tenants Association    Support us   read more on the website of Unite LE/1111 Housing Workers Branch

Timms Review: calls for Welsh govt. to back independent disability review – A powerful coalition of Welsh disability, carers’, and trade union organisations have today written to the Welsh Government asking ministers to lodge their “strongest possible grievance” with the UK Government over the Timms Review into the PIP disability benefit. The UK-wide review was announced in parliament late last year, with promises of “co-production” with disabled people, and a pledge of no further cuts until its conclusion. However, Welsh Disabled Peoples’ Organisations are adamant that co-production is not happening, with Welsh disabled people, they claim, treated with particular contempt. The intervention comes in the final week before the Senedd summer recess, after local authorities, including Swansea Council, admitted they have made “no provision” for impending disability cuts in their medium-term budgets. The groups have asked the new Welsh Government to deliver on its promise of providing practical assistance in achieving a “long standing demand” of “a genuine disability review, led independently and democratically by disabled people and our organisations, including our trade unions.”

  • The letter was coordinated by Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru). Co-signatories include Disabled Peoples’ Organisations, unpaid Carers’ Organisations, and trade union organisations including the Social Workers Union, BFAWU, PCS Wales, TSSA Wales No 1. Branch, Unite Community Wales, the NSSN, and Welsh trades councils.
  • The letter to the Welsh Government, the full list of signatories, and a briefing, is available here: Non-Easy Read version  Easy Read version

For any press enquiries please email [email protected]

Or for anything else please email [email protected]

This May Day, Strike Map launched the Solidarity Fund. A simple to use permanent place, you can contribute to support striking workers read more

Centenary of the 1926 General Strike – Monday May 4, marks the centenary of the 1926 General Strike and an event appropriately called Centenary will be held at Glasshouse Gateshead to commemorate that momentous occasion, which was the biggest rupture in British society since the English civil wars of the 1640s. Centenary will comprise songs, comedy sketches, stand-up comedy and recitations.  

Producer Ed Waugh penned Carrying David, Wor Bella, Hadaway Harry and The Cramlington Train Wreckers which transfers to Newcastle Theatre Royal in July.  

Ed explained: “Centenary is an appropriate name for the show because it’s amazing to think we’ll be performing the show exactly 100 years to the day that the General Strike actually started. “While Centenary will commemorate the UK’s only General Strike it will also celebrate other working class struggles from the Napoleonic Wars to the present time using popular culture.”

The one-off show will be compered by Micky Cochrane, who is the current  Performer of the Year (North East Culture Awards) for his outstanding performances in the Cramlington Train Wreckers and Carrying David.

Ed continued: “Paul Weller and Tom Robinson have has given us personal permission to use their  songs. Likewise the tremendous Paul Simmonds of The Men They Couldn’t Hang and the estate of the late-great Alan Hull of Lindisfarne.” He added: “Not only will it be first-class entertainment, we think people will come away inspired, having learnt about real, working class, history.”

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – adapted by Neil Gore from the book by Robert Tressell, directed by Louise Townsend details

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    

STAMMA website    

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   

     

Oppose blacklisting & union victimisation

Statement from the Independent Blacklisting Collusion Inquiry legal team (31 July) read more

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     

Taiwan: Stop union busting at TaiDoc read more from LabourStart

Turkey: SPOT Statement on the arrest of Deniz Göktaş read more on the website of SPOT – Solidarity with the People of Turkey

Turkey: Mehmet Türkmen released but the fight for workers’ rights in Turkey continues – The release of Turkish trade union leader Mehmet Türkmen after 57 days in prison is a victory for workers, trade unionists, and all those who stood in solidarity against repression in Turkey. But his case has exposed something far deeper than the unjust imprisonment of one union organiser: it has shone an international spotlight on the deadly working conditions faced by textile workers in Gaziantep and the growing criminalisation of labour activism read more on the website of Solidarity with the People of Turkey

Germany: International solidarity against union busting – CWI member under attack for his defence of workers’ rights (19 June) – Cologne’s swimming pool operator, Köln-Bäder GmbH, a subsidiary of Cologne’s council’s municipal services provider, Stadtwerke-Köln GmbH, has filed a motion for the extraordinary termination of employment of works council member, Martin Löber. The reason given for this termination is alleged working-hour fraud. Experts from ver.di (the public sector union) who have reviewed the case have stated that this incident does not even warrant a discussion. Various claims made in the justification for the termination have been proven false, as evidence has already shown. There is a strong suspicion that the grounds for the termination have been fabricated. For Martin, the termination is yet another attempt by his employer to get rid of him. He has already been suspended twice during previous conflicts…Send letters of protest to Köln-Bäder GmbH at [email protected] with copies sent to [email protected]  read more

Nigeria: A Call for Solidarity – Drop Trumped-Up Charges against Soweto and Dele Frank Now! On March 11, 2026, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and spokesperson of #EndBadGovernance Movement Lagos, and Dele Frank (Arole Fela) are expected to appear before a magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos for the commencement of a sham trial on the trumped-up charges preferred against them by the Lagos State Police Command over their participation in a peaceful protest read more, including model letter of protest. Send copies of letters of protest to the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) is [email protected]

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 employers. We call on the TUC to implement the policy passed at its 2018 Congress, to launch a campaign of ‘Jobs and homes NOT racism.’

For details of protests, check your local trades council and go to the website of Together Alliance

   

   

Diary      

  

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