323: Support strikes in the tube & train stations and airport!

 

RMT / ASLEF / TSSA

Southern Rail strikes

RMT lobby of Parliament November 1st
RMT lobby of Parliament November 1st

Members of RMT and ASLEF are in dispute on Southern Rail over the imposition of Driver Only Operations (DOO). The NSSN sends solidarity and support to both unions and we call on our members to support the following days of strikes:-

Tuesday 10 January; Wednesday 11 January; and Friday 13 January Tuesday 24 January; Wednesday 25 January and Friday 27 January (ASLEF & RMT drivers)

Send donations and messages of support to RMT and ASLEF via [email protected] and [email protected] or through twitter @ASLEFunion and @RMTunion

Industrial action on Southern

Watch BBC debate on Southern Rail dispute with RMT Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch here

Members of RMT and TSSA went on a 24 hour strike between Sunday 8th and Monday 9th  January in Tube station staffing dispute

Kings Cross picket (photo from Steve Hedley RMT AGS)
Kings Cross picket (photo from Steve Hedley RMT AGS)

RMT; Tube staff out in force across the network in fight for jobs and safety

RMT repeats call for talks in Tube safety dispute

TSSA Tube Strike update

 

Unite

Support the Mixed Fleet cabin crew workers on strike today and tomorrow at British Airways

ba-mixed-fleet

Time for BA to address cabin crew concerns over poverty pay (10 Jan) – Commenting on today’s industrial action, Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: “Going on strike is never an easy decision, so we are pleased with the numbers of ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew who have taken the courageous step to take a stand against poverty pay at British Airways read more

Watch video of why cabin crew are striking

Unite reveals membership surge ahead of British Airways ‘mixed fleet’ 48-hour strike   Tweet support to the Unite Mixed Fleet branch @MFUnite

Unite calls for urgent meeting with energy minister over £660m Treasury ‘raid’ on nuclear workers’ pensions

Support Manchester Fujitsu in dispute over pay, pensions and job security dispute – 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/

 

Support United Voices of the World union members arrested after Harrods protest against the company keeping 75% of low-paid waiters’ tips NSSN supporters were on the protest last Saturday outside the Knightsbridge store. We learned after that 8 people were arrested, including 4 members of the United Voices of the World union and amongst these was Petros Elia the union’s general secretary who has disgracefully received a banning order! But the campaign will continue. Please email messages of support to [email protected]. Website: www.uvwunion.org.uk  Facebook: www.facebook.com/uvwunion   Twitter: @UVWunion

uvw-harrods

 

 

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

Tories confirm that 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

Watch NSSN chair Rob Williams being interviewed on SKY News on the Christmas strikes and opposing Tory attacks on the unions here

 

 

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

Unison

Derby teaching assistants are taking a further two days of strike action over their dispute with the Labour led city council. The strike dates are 19 and 20 January

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

Support Glasgow Unison janitors & ICT staff action disputes –

Unison Glasgow City Branch Facebook group and website

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

 

CWU

CWU to Royal Mail: ‘Take executive action on our pensions and we’ll ballot’ (5 Jan) – Royal Mail bosses were warned today that any unagreed pension changes will spark a national strike ballot, following the company’s announcement of a formal consultation read more

Formal complaint lodged over scandalous BBC treatment of workers (5 Jan) – The continued failure of the BBC to respond to repeated CWU demands for an explanation of the “dreadful” treatment dished out to 12 former Sopra Steria members has triggered the union to issue a formal complaint to the corporation’s governing body read more

Sign the petition to stop the closure of Royal Mail Delivery Office, Ashton-under-Lyne here

 

PCS

Acas referred to Central Arbitration Committee over ongoing PCS dispute (5 Jan) – The conciliation service Acas has been referred by PCS to the CAC, the independent body with statutory powers and judicial responsibilities, in its ongoing dispute over service restructuring. The CAC, which is staffed by Acas employees, has been asked by PCS to intervene. This follows the announcement by Acas on 20 October that its office in Bootle, Merseyside would close with the staff expected to move to Manchester, and it is also ceasing helpline operations in 6 other locations, which will leave 4 from the current 11 read more

 

GMB

Strike Ballot over £660 Million Broken Pension Promise (Jan 9) – Nuclear workers have played their part in keeping the lights on for decade – If this government is determined to break its promises and is not prepared to negotiate, there is no alternative but to ballot members to take strike action says GMB 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

London Weighting – Fair Funding also means Fair Pay

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

 

UCU

University vice-chancellors enjoy pay hike of 6% (9 Jan) – Vice-chancellors at the research-intensive Russell GroupOpens new window of universities received an average 5.9% pay rise in 2015/16, according to a surveyOpens new window released today. In the same year, university staff received a 1.1% increase. The Times Higher Education magazine’s survey found the average cost of salary and benefits (excluding pensions) for a Russell Group vice-chancellor is now £342,200 read more

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

Picturehouse workers back more strikes (4 Jan) – Members with placards Union members at the Hackney Picturehouse on strike in October 2016. BECTU members working for Picturehouse cinemas in Brixton, Hackney and central London have given their overwhelming backing to strike action as they continue their efforts to engage management in talks to resolve their disputes. More than 100 union members took part in the official strike ballot across the three sites: the Ritzy in Brixton, the Hackney Picturehouse and Picturehouse Central in central London. 97% of those voting backed strike action. Participation in the ballot was 77% read more

Brixton Facebook Page   Hackney Facebook Page   Support the Picturehouse Strike Fund – donate now   Fundraiser for Picturehouse Strikers – Hosted by Haringey Labour Momentum on January 13

Hackney Picturehouse Strike Fundraiser – January 18

 

FBU

Government in court over discriminatory firefighter pensions (10 Jan) – The government and fire service employers in England and Wales are in court today (10 Jan) defending a pension scheme in which some younger firefighters will have to save more than 85% of their wage in order to access the same pension value as their older colleagues. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says this is a “textbook” example of age discrimination against younger firefighters read more

Fire authority members warned against backing government cuts to service (6 Jan) – Firefighters have warned politicians that plans to axe 49 firefighter posts at Avon Fire and Rescue Service represent an “unacceptable and dangerous” threat to the safety of the public read more

Campaign launched as busiest fire station in Surrey threatened with closure (5 Jan) – Surrey’s busiest fire station could close later this year as the cash strapped county council looks to make even deeper spending cuts. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says lives will be endangered if Staines fire station is axed as it would leave Spelthorne as the most under-resourced borough in the county for fire safety. It has launched a campaign against the plans read more

 

IWGB

CitySprint Courier Tribunal Victory! (Jan 8) –  On Friday 6th January 2016, the London Central Employment Tribunal ruled in favour of 29-year-old bicycle courier Maggie Dewhurst, who had taken the UK’s leading sameday courier company, CitySprint UK Ltd, to court in November last year over her employment status. The tribunal claim was for two days’ unpaid holiday pay, but the real argument was whether couriers should be classified as “independent contractors”, or “workers” in the eyes of UK and EU law read more

IWGB Couriers And Logistics Branch Facebook page

 

 

Other News

Martin Larkham RIP – Martin passed away just before Christmas after 40 years as an active trade unionist and serving as vice-chairman of the Greater Manchester Association of Trade Union Councils (GMATUC). His funeral will take place at Rochdale Crematorium on Friday, January 13, at 1.40pm read more

‘It’s Our NHS!’ national demonstration: assemble 12noon Saturday March 4th Tavistock Square, London WC1H – As 2017 opens, the crisis in the NHS continues. The Health Campaigns Together grassroots campaign has called a national demonstration https://www.facebook.com/events/1771664639725061/

Emergency protest: ‘Hunt Must GO!’ this Thursday January 12 – 6pm Department of Health Whitehall https://www.facebook.com/events/1808774776056778/

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)

Happy new year from Blacklist Support Group (January 6):-

Happy 2017, and a massive thank you to everyone who has assisted the blacklisting campaign throughout 2016 and beyond. Last year saw a historic outcome in the High Court litigation, something few of us thought possible when we first started this fight but a half-hearted apology and financial compensation is not the same as justice. That’s why our fight continues for a full public inquiry.

  1. ‘Blacklisted’ book world tour continues – this time Kuala Lumper

Phil Chamberlain will be giving a free public talk and book signing at Gerakbuduya bookshop in Kuala Lumpur on January 17 from 8-11pm.

More details on the bookshop here: http://gbgerakbudaya.com/bookshop/or  on twitter @GerakBudaya

address: No. 2, Jalan Bukit 11/2, 46200 Petaling Jaya which is about 10 minutes walk from Tama Jaya metro station

  1. Another protest – another music video:

This coming Saturday January 7 there is a protest at Harrods over the company keeping the tips given to staff. BSG encourage as many people as possible to attend and show solidarity with the waiting staff. Wear your Blacklisted t-shirts as there will be a music video shoot for the new song ‘Us the Workers’ by the cutting edge MC, Potent Whisper – meet at Knightsbridge Tube 2pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/1133047913458998/?ti=icl

  1. The Health and Safety Executive have announced their intention to finally prosecute the BFK consortium (Bam – Ferrovial -Kier) over three incidents on the construction of the Crossrail tunnel, including the death of Rene Tkacik, who was crushed by falling spray-on “shotcrete” from a tunnel roof. BSG send solidarity to the family, the London Hazards and construction safety campaign who have tirelessly campaigned for justice.
  2. UNITE – UCATT merger

Blacklist Support Group sends comradely greetings to all construction workers now in the same union following the merger of UCATT and UNITE on 1st January. Let’s hope the newly merged union takes a strong stance against the exploitative employers who have blacklisted our reps and denied their workforce basic employment rights for too long.

  1. Trade Union Pale Ale

The people who brought us Brigadista Beer to commemorate the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War are launching Trade Union Pale Ale in February, with events in both Manchester and London. There is a special edition blacklisting version. We need people to represent, to drink the beer and take photos of the bottles. And more importantly get your local pub or club to order bottles via [email protected]

Tickets available for the launch events from: http://www.kingsarmssalford.com/index.php?id=9#02/10/2017

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

Philippines: union leaders victimized after participating in IUF Global Housekeepers Campaign read more

Ireland: Apollo House occupation taps into mood of anger over homelessness read more

 

Diary (see & use false economy)

 

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