NSSN 320: Southern Rail & Derby TAs strikes and #Sheff4Ten demo

Southern Rail strikes

victoria-aslef-southern-rail

Today, members of train drivers’ union ASLEF have started strike action on Southern Rail. This comes after weeks of action by RMT members. ASLEF successfully defeated management’s attempts to yet again undemocratically scupper their strike through court action. The NSSN sends solidarity and support to both unions and we call on our members to support the following days of strikes:-

00:01 Tuesday 13 December to 23:59 Wednesday 14 December (Aslef and RMT drivers’ strike)

00:01 Friday 16 December to 23:59: Friday 16 December (Aslef and RMT drivers’ strike)

00:01 Monday 19 December to 23:59 Tuesday 20 December (RMT conductors’ strike)

00:01 Saturday 31 December to 23:59 Monday 2 January (RMT conductors’ strike)

00:01 Monday 9 January to 23:59: Saturday 14 January (Aslef and RMT drivers’ strike)

southern-rail-victoria

RMT and ASLEF drivers shoulder to shoulder in fight for safe train operation

ASLEF response to Grayling

ASLEF: Court of Appeal

RMT calls for ORR investigation into Southern sabotage of rail services

Tweet messages of support to @ASLEFunion and @RMTunion

 

Derby teaching assistants are to take a further six days of strike action over their dispute with the Labour led city council. The strike dates are 14, 15, 19 and 20th December 2016 and then again in the new year (19 and 20 January). This is from a NSSN supporter in the area:-

“The assistants have already taken several days of strike action over massive cuts to pay. The cuts came about originally in the name of (single status) and a review on equal pay. This review saw some workers gain but around 1,200 Unison members will see their pay slashed. These new contracts were imposed on the teaching assistants in June this year. Many will see pay cuts of up to 25% averaging £300-£400 a month; some employees are losing as much as £6,000 a year.

In October planned strike days were suspended to allow talks to end the dispute. The council offered to make a one off payment of £2000 to staff that meet certain criteria. Unison says this equates to just 10% of the 2,700 who have been left out of pocket by the contract changes.

Staff voted to reject this offer and are now preparing for more strike action.

As in the Durham dispute it is a Labour council, yes another Labour council that is forcing through massive cuts to its workers pay. The leader of Derby city council Rangit Banwait stood on the same platform as Jeremy Corbyn in front of a thousand people and declared himself a democratic socialist and a supporter of Jeremy.

As with thousands of other Labour councillors they should face re-selection if they are not prepared to stand up and fight.

Derby TAs will be encouraged by the struggle of their Durham colleagues who have also shown that action can force councils back.”

Unison: Derby teaching assistants to take a further six days of strike action

Donate to Derby hardship fund here

Derby Unison branch Facebook page here

 

Support the Durham Teaching Assistants from Unison and ATL who have also been taking strike action to stop wage cuts of 23%

Donate to the Durham TAs’ fund here

Durham TAs Facebook page here

 

Other Unison news

Support Glasgow Unison janitors & ICT staff action disputes – UNISON Glasgow Strikers – Lobby of City Council Wednesday 14 December at 12.30pm City Chambers, George Square

Unison Glasgow City Branch Facebook group and website

To send protest letters to the leader of Glasgow City Council  [email protected] and the chief executive [email protected]

To send a message of solidarity to the strikers at Glasgow City Unison to [email protected]

Latest on Glasgow Unison janitors & ICT staff action disputes – Unison Glasgow City Branch Facebook group

Sign petition to support the Kinsley School cleaners in Wakefield on indefinite strike since September 6th sign here.  Facebook Group. Donate to strike fund – send to Wakefield Unison, 18 Gills Yard, Wakefield WF1 3BZ

 

Sheffield Fight for £10 living wage #Sheff4Ten demonstration – initiated by Sheffield Trade Union Council and BFAWU 1pm Saturday December 17th Devonshire Green www.facebook.com/Sheff4Ten. Sheffield Trade Union Council has played a leading role in the calling of this protest. If your Trades Council wants to organise one on £10/hr minimum wage, contact BFAWU President Ian Hodson – @IanBFAWU on twitter

sheff4ten

See reports from November 29th USA nationwide day of strikes and protests – follow #Fightfor15 on twitter

 

Australia: NSSN sends congratulations to the CUB55 who returned to work on December 6th following a six month-long campaign to reclaim their jobs. 55 Carlton & United Breweries maintenance workers were sacked and then offered their jobs back for up to 65% less pay. After exactly 6 months of boycott, beers like VB, Melbourne Bitter, Carlton Draught are back in unionists’ fridges this summer, as AMWU and ETU members at CUB in Melbourne secured a victory in time for Christmas. Members held their heads high as the win came down, vindicated in standing strong for their rights. By the end, management of CUB-InBev buckled to all of the union’s demands: all workers able to go back to work (should they choose) on their original pay and conditions, a guarantee of no involuntary redundancies and any new contractor must meet the existing conditions. The temporary non-union workforce employed by the company will be leaving very soon read more

cub55

 

 

Trade Union Act to come into force on March 1st – TUC call a special conference

Tories confirm that the their anti-union laws, incorporated in the Trade Union Act, including new undemocratic industrial action ballot thresholds will come into force on March 1st. The NSSN calls on the TUC to implement the policy passed at this year’s TUC Congress which, moved by the RMT which includes:

“Congress believes the General Council needs to convene an urgent conference of affiliates to provide a practical forum, including workshops, as to how to best coordinate our legal and industrial response to the Act in line with policy already set by Congress.”

and an amendment from the FBU:

“Congress should discuss all options for challenging the new legislation. This should include stepping up the campaign to scrap the Act and other anti-union legislation as well as the practical steps to be taken to support any unions and groups of workers threatened by this anti-worker legislation.”

Read more

 

 

NSSN news

Early notice – the 11th annual NSSN Conference will be on Saturday July 1st 2017 from 11am in Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. It is open to all trade union and anti-cuts campaigners

This is a video of the NSSN TUC Congress Rally on 11 September – Tories Out! Keep Corbyn!

Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Affiliation letter is below

Download the ‘Join the NSSN’ leaflet here

And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]

 

 

Union News

RMT

RMT confirms strike action by cleaners on GWR after massive 98% yes vote (12 Dec) – Following last week’s ballot result overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action, RMT’s National Executive Committee has taken the decision to call on all Servest UK members working on the GWR Contract to take the following strike action: Not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

  • 0559 on Friday 16th December 2016 and 0558 on Saturday 17th December 2016
  • 0559 on Friday 23rd December 2016 and 0558 on Saturday 24th December 2016 read more

RMT announce strike dates over poverty pay threat on Virgin West Coast Catering (9 Dec) – RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today strike dates in a pay dispute on Virgin West Coast’s catering supplies service which it says could reduce pay of members to poverty levels at a time when the political debate is focussed on lifting wages to a genuine, living level…Members are instructed not to book on for any turns commencing between 22:00 hours on Tuesday 13th December 2016 until 21:59 hours on Thursday 15th December 2016. In addition, members are also instructed to take further action by not booking on for any turns commencing 22:00 on Tuesday 20th December 2016 until 21:59 hours on Thursday 22nd December 2016 read more

 

Unite

Victory for UPS parcel workers – Unite the Union members employed by UPS Parcels in Camden, London, have won a tremendous victory in a long running battle against bullying and racism. The company has a business model which forces drivers to work overtime using bullying tactics such as sending messages out to drivers who are out on route, demanding that they finish delivering all packages before returning to the depot – and threatening disciplinary action if this condition is not met read more

‘Havoc’ on cards for Argos customers as drivers to strike for 72 hours in run-up to Christmas (13 Dec) – The delivery of Christmas gifts from Argos, such as iPhones, could be seriously disrupted as drivers are set to strike for 72 hours over the failure to honour holiday back pay, Unite, the country’s largest union, warned today (Tuesday 13 December). The drivers work for Wincanton based at Argos’ flagship national distribution centre (NDC) at Barton-under-Needwood, near Burton on Trent, in Staffordshire will strike for three days from 00.01 on Tuesday 20 December read more

Crossrail: union reps sacked or bumped off job – after the fantastic day of action on November 25th, three union reps have found themselves off the Crossrail project. We reported last week that the Tottenham Court Rd steward has been transferred off the site despite 4 days of action from his members. We have now learned that the suspended steward at Bow has now been sacked and Unite EC member Frank Morris has also been bumped. The union and its members are fighting back against this victimisation and blacklisting as they struggle for the 2nd tier payment. The NSSN will continue to back them.  Donate to hardship fund for victimised Unite members: Account name – Unite London Construction LE/0555 Branch, account number – 20276649, sort code – 60830, Unity trust bank. Tweet support to London Construction Branch LE/0555 @unite0555

Doncaster bin workers strike against draconian management style (12 Dec) – 130 members of the Unite trade union working at the Doncaster waste transfer depot are on strike today, Monday 12 December, over a ‘draconian’ management style and the victimisation and sacking of two colleagues. The one-day stoppage by the refuse and recycling workers, who are employed by Sita UK Limited which now trades as Suez Environment, followed a massive 98% vote in favour of strike action on a turnout of 94% read more

Manchester Fujitsu workers stage 72-hour strike in pay, pensions and job security dispute (9 Dec) – About 300 workers at IT giant Fujitsu in Manchester will strike for 72 hours, starting tomorrow (Saturday 10 December), in the long-running dispute over pay, pensions and job security. The strike, which starts at 00.01 tomorrow, follows no progress at talks today (Friday 9 December) between the management and Unite, the country’s largest union, under the auspices of the conciliation service, Acas. Unite members are also refusing to cooperate with projects to move work offshore, including knowledge transfer – this ban started on Monday (5 December). The strikes are accompanied by a continuous work to rule, withdrawal of goodwill and ban on overtime which has been in place since 31 October. The workers have already taken six days of strike action read more. Supporters can find the “appeal for support” leaflet and details of how to send messages of support and donate to the Manchester strike fund here: https://ouruniontest.wordpress.com/manchester-dispute/  Facebook Group

Greenwich Leisure Limited: Call For Assistance – One of our target employers in the region is Greewnich Leisure Limited (GLL). In Greewnich alone we have had 3 separate strike campaigns to protect pay, conditions, staffing levels and services. The company have local authority contracts in a number of boroughs, but it has been difficult to get access staff outside of Greenwich. We expect that GLL will be one of the bidders for libraries in Bromley. It has come to our attention that there will be a GLL “communications day” on 19th December where services will close and staff will be instructed to attend the event. We have asked to speak at the event or have a stall, but as we expect to be refused, we will be leafleting the event.

Monday 19th December – 8.30 am to 9.30 am and 1 pm to 2 pm, Copper Box Arena Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (Nearest station is Stratford) Please do what you can to support the event – Onay Kasab Regional Officer Unite the Union

 

PCS

Third day of successful strike action for government equality staff (12 Dec) – PCS and Unite members at the Equality and Human Rights Commission are on their third walk-out over redundancies and budget cuts. Today’s action (12 December) is the third day of strike action by members of PCS and Unite.  It follows the announcement that the government’s equality watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has agreed a 25% cut in its budget over the next four years read more

End to Sheffield BIS dispute in sight after commitment on jobs and local offices (12 Dec) – An end to the long-standing dispute surrounding the former Department of Business Innovations and Skills office in Sheffield is in sight following a commitment to find alternative roles for all those staff at risk of redundancy and “look positively at how the department can be strengthened around the country read more

Mark Serwotka has successful heart transplant (8 Dec) – We are delighted to announce our general secretary Mark Serwotka has had a successful heart transplant read more

 

NUJ

NUJ condemns lack of action on closure of newspaper titles (7 Dec) – The NUJ has condemned the regulation authorities for taking no action over the closure of newspapers in Luton, Milton Keynes and Northampton which will have a serious effect on choice and media plurality read more

 

CWU

Post Office bosses’ provoke Christmas Week strike (12 Dec) – The crisis in the Post Office created by senior Post Office management has forced the CWU to announce five days of strikes in the week leading up to Christmas. Commencing Monday 19th December and including Saturday Christmas Eve, thousands of Post Office workers will be walking out on strike from workplaces across the country, in response to continuing attacks by company chiefs on their job security and pensions, and in defence of the Crown Office network read more

Reinstate Clive Walder – Clive Walder, a longstanding leading rep in the CWU was sacked last November after 38 years of service with British Telecom. Clive is chair of the CWU Birmingham, Black Country & Worcester branch. Clive worked in a BT call centre and was dismissed after an aggressive customer reported him to management just 33 seconds into a phone call. The decision was made without taking stress into account despite the local CWU branch reporting that 7% of staff at the call centre leave their jobs each month, some walking out mid shift. Management took the decision without consulting any medical advice or taking into account any mitigation. Clive is a NSSN steering committee member and we will be supporting the campaign protesting the sacking and campaigning for his reinstatement. Contact Clive to send messages of support and invite him to your union branch, shop stewards committee, trades council etc – [email protected] 07771931185

Clive has his pre-hearing next week. If he loses this then his right to go to ET for unfair dismissal is finished. It will be held on Wednesday 21st December at 10.30am at Fleetbank House, Salisbury Square LONDON EC4Y 8JX. If anyone is about on the day, meet outside at 10am to show him support

 

GMB

Hundreds Flock To Join Uber Case (Dec 12) – Thousands more predicted to follow suit according to law firm. Hundreds of Uber drivers have joined GMB’s case against Uber – with a total of 50 now having proceedings issued read more

Sir Philip Green Faces More Trouble As Topshop Supply Workers Walk Out Again (Dec 7) – GMB members at the distribution arm of the Arcadia empire locked in fierce struggle for a living wage. Disgraced Topshop supremo Sir Philip Green is set for a turbulent run up to Christmas as GMB workers vote for fresh industrial action. Staff at Spectrum for Arcadia, a division of the DHL Logistics Supply Chain, will walk out tomorrow (December 8) and again on Monday read more

 

NUJ

NUJ condemns lack of action on closure of newspaper titles (7 Dec) – The NUJ has condemned the regulation authorities for taking no action over the closure of newspapers in Luton, Milton Keynes and Northampton which will have a serious effect on choice and media plurality read more

 

FBU

North Yorkshire firefighters vote for industrial action to protect public safety (13 Dec) – For the first time in their entire history, firefighters in North Yorkshire today voted to take industrial action short of strike action.  Their 90% yes vote shows the overwhelming strength of feeling against local plans to reduce firefighter numbers by introducing  ‘tactical response vehicles’,  trucks that look a bit like fire engines but that will only carry crews of two’s and three’s instead of the minimum of four needed to fight a fire.  These proposals are totally inadequate to meet the needs of firefighters who are called out to incidents read more

Report slammed for suggesting merger between fire service and the police (8 Dec) – The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said a new report that calls for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue to be merged with the police is a threat to the independence of the service read more

 

BFAWU

Reinstate Kumaran Bose – sacked by Samworths! The NSSN is supporting the BFAWU’s campaign in support of Kumaran Bose who was dismissed for speaking out and for organising a union in his workplace read more    Facebook group   BFAWU Statement On Samworth Brothers’ Sacking Of Kumaran Bose

 

NUT

Reinstate sacked Waltham Forest NUT rep Tobias Hayden – A decision has been made by the Governing Body of Davies Lane Primary School to dismiss NUT representative, Tobias Hayden on charges of gross misconduct.  Tobias was summarily dismissed without pay from his job at Davies Lane on 21st November at a disciplinary hearing held in his absence.  We are shocked at this decision and believe that Tobias is being victimised for trade union activities, namely:

In the Summer term, Tobias invited junior doctors to speak to the school’s NUT group.  Meetings such as this were encouraged by the NUT to show solidarity for our joint campaign.

Tobias was also vocal in his opposition to his school becoming an academy, in line with NUT policy.  As part of his opposition he approached parents at the school to discuss the academy conversion.

We urge the governors to overturn the decision to dismiss Tobias at his impending appeal and ask that he be reinstated with immediate effect sign here

Support Simon O’Hara — victimised teacher at Small Heath School in Birmingham

 

UCU

Support the reinstatement of London Met union reps: Mark Campbell and David Hardman https://uculondonmet.wordpress.com/

 

Nationalise Tata – support the Steelworkers

For latest developments, follow Facebook group

 

BECTU

Support Brixton Ritzy and Hackney Picturehouse Cinema workers – They have been striking for the London Living wagenext strike at Brixton: 4pm onwards this Friday. BECTU are also going to re-ballot for industrial action not only with our fellow workers at A Living Wage for Hackney Picturehouse Staff but also with Picturehouse Central workers, where the claim for a living wage has been rejected by management Brixton Facebook Page   Hackney Facebook Page   Support the Picturehouse Strike Fund – donate now

 

IWGB

Deliveroo Campaign Public Meeting #2 – 7pm Tuesday December 13 Somers Town Community Association 150 Ossulston Street, NW1 1EE London https://www.facebook.com/events/1639207596372992/

IWGB Couriers and Logistics Branch Facebook Group

Holidays, equal pay – Brexit threatens these rights. We are fighting to keep them

 

United Voices of the World

See photos of Justice for LSE cleaners demo on December 2 here

The LSE cleaners have declared an official dispute with Noonan/LSE following their refusal to concede the cleaners’ demands for dignity and equality or even talk to or negotiate with them or their chosen union UVW. This marks the first dispute by non-academic staff in the 126 year history of the LSE! The cleaners will soon be balloted and are expected to vote strongly, if not unanimously, in favour of strike action. Read more on United Voices of the World Facebook Group  

Trade union victimisation: Topshop cleaners have been sacked! Support UVW’s legal proceedings – Two cleaners at billionaire BHS buster Philip Green’s flagship brand Topshop have been sacked for campaigning for a living wage. Their union UVW have started legal proceedings on their behalf for trade union victimisation. However, legal fees can cost several thousand pounds for two big claims like this and UVW runs on a shoe string budget. Therefore, if you would like to contribute towards the legal fees of the Topshop Two’s Tribunal claims then please do so via paypal by following this link  http://www.uvwunion.org.uk/emergency-appeal (you’ll see the button at the bottom of the page) or just by transferring directly to UVW’s bank account: The Co-operative Bank Account title: United Voices of the World Sort code: 08-92-99 Account: 65755617

 

 

Other News

Defend the NHS

‘It’s Our NHS’ – National Demonstration to defend the NHS in London on March 4th 2017 – called by ‘Health Campaigns Together’ an umbrella organisation of different local campaigns against NHS cuts – supported by Unite https://www.facebook.com/events/1771664639725061/   http://www.healthcampaignstogether.com/index.php

SERTUC Public Services Committee Health Conference – Saturday 25 February 2017 read more

 

Blacklisting & Victimisation

Buy the book ‘Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big Business and Union Activists’ Author: Dave Smith and Phil Chamberlain. Blacklisted tells the controversial story of the illegal strategies that transnational construction companies used to keep union activists away from work. See the official trailer from ReelNews who are having their Xmas party tonight December 13th – 7.30pm onwards Brixton Pound Café 77, Atlantic Rd SW9 8PU

Blacklist Support Group financial appeal: the Blacklist support group is desperately short of funds, to continue the incredible work we need more finance, would you please consider making a donation, raise it at your branches and trade councils. Please make cheques payable to Joint sites committee and send to 70 Darnay Rise Chelmsford Essex CM1 4XA. Please forward onto your contacts many thanks Steve Kelly (JSC Treasurer)

Book http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70

Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

Donate to ReelNews – http://reelnews.co.uk/donationssubscriptions/

 

 

International

Kazakhstan: Campaign Kazakhstan protest on 5th anniversary of the murderous, unprovoked attack was launched by the ‘forces of law and order’ on a peaceful gathering in the central square of Zhenazoen. Workers in the area estimate that up to 200 strikers and supporters could have been killed. Numerous arrests were made. Relatives have been refused information on their missing loved ones – 11am this Friday December 16th at the Kazakhstan Embassy 125 Pall Mall, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5EA

Kazakhstan: Save the independent trade union centre from forced dissolution  

 

Diary (see & use false economy)

 

2016

December

 

2017

March

4 ‘It’s Our NHS’ – National Demonstration to defend the NHS in London on March 4th 2017 – called by ‘Health Campaigns Together’ an umbrella organisation of different local campaigns against NHS cuts https://www.facebook.com/events/1771664639725061/  http://www.healthcampaignstogether.com/index.php

With Banners Held High – all day workshops, debates, exhibition gig in Wakefield in support of causes such as Justice for Mineworkers and Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign https://webmail.123-reg.co.uk/appsuite/#!!&app=io.ox/mail&folder=default0//NNIS%5B

18 National Demo: Refugees and Migrants Welcome – Stand Up To Racism, Islamophobia & Anti-Semitism read more

 

July

1 11th annual NSSN Conference 11am in Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL

 

CONTACT US

PHONE 07952 283 558

EMAIL mailto:[email protected]

 

TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts

FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP   or STOP The CUTS  Likes page

ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE