442: June 24 NSSN Solidarity Meeting: Save Ford Bridgend

Last week, we headlined our bulletin with the news that Ford intend to close the Bridgend Engine Plant. This would be a disaster for the 1700 workers in the plant and many others in the supply chain and related industries, as well as the working-class communities in South Wales will be affected.

Ex-Ford workers protest about their pensions after Visteon went into administration in 2009
Ex-Ford workers protest about their pensions after Visteon went into administration in 2009

The NSSN gives our full support and solidarity to the Ford workers and their unions Unite and the GMB. We are holding a public meeting this coming Monday in Bridgend in solidarity with the Ford workers. NSSN chair Rob Williams, a former convenor at the now closed Swansea plant will be speaking. He said, “This is a catastrophe for these workers, their families and communities and the whole Welsh economy. It comes after recent similarly terrible news at Swindon Honda and British Steel. I stand in total solidarity with the Bridgend Fordworkers – many of who are my friends and fellow workmates. I support any action that they deem necessary locally and nationally to fight to save the plant. Therefore, I welcome the workforce vote of over 80% to fight the closure. The wider labour and trade union movement must give full support to these workers.

“The Labour-run Welsh Assembly Government should tell Ford that the plant will be nationalised to save jobs and communities and Jeremy Corbyn must give the commitment that a Labour government led by him will take it into public ownership. This is the way to put a weak and divided Tory government under pressure to intervene.”

NSSN Solidarity Meeting: Support the Ford Bridgend workers. No Closure – Monday, 24 June 7:30pm Bridgend YMCA: Angel Street, CF31 4AD Bridgend Facebook event

 

Fourth Annual Bob Crow Memorial Meeting: Save our Industries! Nationalise Fords Bridgend! (Hosted by Caerphilly Trades Council) – Friday, 28 June 2019 from 7.30pm in Pensioners’ Hall, Park Lane, Caerphilly CF83 1A Facebook event

 

Unite: Ford Bridgend workforce vote overwhelmingly to fight closure plan (14 June) – Unite the union has today held a series of mass meetings with the Ford Bridgend workforce to assess their views as to how the union should proceed on their behalf. Following the meetings a consultative ballot took place which delivered an overwhelming mandate for Unite to fight for the future of the plant. 83 per cent of those who voted have indicated that they would be prepared to fight the plant closure proposals, through industrial action if necessary. Peter Hughes, Unite Wales regional secretary commented: “Our members at Ford Bridgend have today clearly expressed their view that they are willing to take on Ford and fight hard to secure a future for their world class plant. The consultative ballot clearly demonstrates that the workforce are not prepared to lie down and quietly accept their fate. They are not prepared to let Ford deliver an act of unprecedented industrial sabotage, the ramifications of which would be devastation of the Bridgend area and the Welsh automotive supply chain…” read more

Sign the petition: Nationalise Ford Bridgend if the company closes the plant – an appeal to Mark Drakeford

 

 

NSSN news

May’s gone – now get rid of ALL the Tories! Come to 2019 NSSN Conference in London on Saturday July 6th – confirmed speakers: Mick Cash RMT General Secretary, Sharon Graham Unite Executive Officer, Ronnie Draper BFAWU General Secretary and Amy Murphy USDAW President, Lyn Marie O’Hara and Paddy Brennan Honda Unite Convenor

This year’s National Shop Stewards Network Conference takes place as the Tory crisis reaches a new stage with the resignation of Theresa May. But no Tory prime minister will act in the interests of workers – we need a general election to get rid of them all and their vicious austerity and anti-union laws. And if necessary, the labour and trade union movement must mobilise to fight for it.

Themes for discussion in the main sessions and workshops will include: Brexit – what’s the way forward for workers?; Housing; Climate Change and the unions, Winning ballots for action; Brexit and Migrant workers; Organising young Workers and Unionising in Private Contractors

Book your place today!

2019 NSSN Conference – 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL – Saturday July 6th. Attendance fee £6. Pay on the day or you can send us a cheque: make out to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ and post to NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. You can register in advance by emailing [email protected]

Please use this letter in your union and trades council to help us finance the conference and affiliate to the NSSN Facebook event

 

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

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]

Follow us on twitter via @NSSN_AntiCuts and Facebook

 

 

 

Union News

More Unite

Fight Fortem’s Union Busting in Birmingham – Yesterday (June 19) supporters of the National Shop Stewards Network in Birmingham were supporting and building the campaign to drop all charges of blacklisting, corporate bullying and union-busting of Fortem Solutions against Unite reps defending workers’ rights and tenants safety! Read more

Morrisons’ drivers and mechanics voting on whether to hold strike ballot in transfer row (19 June) – A sense of betrayal at plans by supermarket giant Morrisons to outsource nearly 400 drivers and mechanics has triggered a consultative ballot on whether to take strike action to fight this move, Unite said today (Wednesday 19 June). Unite has sent ballot papers to its members at three Morrison sites – Gadbrook (Cheshire), Stockton-on-Tees (County Durham) and Wakefield in West Yorkshire – asking them whether they wish to proceed to a full scale industrial ballot. The ballot closes on Monday (24 June). The core of the dispute is Morrisons’ plan to transfer the transport operation at the three distribution sites to Wincanton and the vehicle maintenance teams at the same sites to Pullmans, a Wincanton subsidiary, from August this year read more

Wrexham Children’s Nursery Staff Confirm Strike Days (18 June) – Unite members at a Wrexham Children’s Nursery are to hold three days of strike action over their employer’s refusal to recognise Unite to negotiate employees terms and conditions. Staff at the Pan Children’s Nursery are employed by Merseyside’s SHAP Limited. They will strike for 3 consecutive days from Tuesday 2 July 2019 until Thursday 4 July 2019 after voting by 100% for strike action. The strike will mean that employees of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, who predominantly use the nursery, will need to make alternative childcare arrangements read more

Wahaca restaurant incident prompts renewed call for new legislation on tips (17 June) – The Wahaca ‘wage theft’ incident reinforces the need for government ministers to stop dragging their feet and introduce the promised new laws to stop management’s abuse of tips, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said today (Monday 17 June). Responding to reports that a waiter at a Wahaca restaurant was forced to foot the bill after customers did a runner, Dave Turnbull Unite regional officer said: “The Wahaca incident reinforces calls on this government and the next Conservative party leader to keep its promise to bring in new laws to stop employers abusing tips. “In our experience, staff are often forced to hand over their hard earned tips to cover the costs of all kinds of things, from customers doing a runner without paying, to till shortages and breakages. “As part of this call we are re-issuing a short video to urge the government to act: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrY5RzqD8Sc…) read more

Stansted easyJet ‘check-in chaos’ on cards, as workers ballot for strike action over ‘dismal’ pay (17 June) – Thousands of easyJet passengers could face severe delays at Stansted Airport later this summer, if check-in staff go on strike in a pay dispute, Unite warned today (Monday 17 June). Unite represents 38 passenger service agents employed by Stobart Aviation Services Limited, which has the easyJet contract at the Essex airport. The workers are being balloted on whether they wish to strike over the company’s refusal to pay wages in line with similar companies at Stansted; refusal to recognise Unite as a trade union for collective bargaining purposes; and a breakdown in industrial relations. The ballot closes on Tuesday 2 July read more

South Yorkshire bus drivers to strike for two days over ‘insulting’ pay freeze offer (13 June) – A total of 900 bus drivers in South Yorkshire are holding two days of strike action after rejecting the ‘insulting’ offer of a one year pay freeze, Unite said today (Thursday 13 June). The workers, employed by First South Yorkshire Limited, will strike for 24 hours on Saturday 29 June and Monday 1 July, after voting by 69 per cent for strike action and by 79 per cent for industrial action short of a strike. The strike will mean that services run by the company in Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham, as well as part of the Derbyshire Dales will ‘grind to halt’, according to Unite read more

Further industrial action dates announced for Aberdeen Airport (13 June) – Unite the union has today (13 June) announced two further dates of industrial action at Aberdeen Airport taking place on 27 and 28 June both commencing at 06:00 to 10:00. Aberdeen Airport is part of AGS Airports Limited group, which also owns Glasgow where a series of industrial stoppages are taking pace over the coming days. The dispute centres on a pay claim and AGS closing the defined benefit pension scheme. This broke an Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) agreement made in 2016 to keep the scheme open to existing members, despite Aberdeen Airport increasing after tax profits from £10.7 million in 2016 to £19.1 million in 2017. Unite can confirm that Aberdeen Airport management yesterday (12 June) made a repackaged 3.0 per cent pay offer for 2019, which is materially the same as the one tabled in negotiations through Acas in April. Critically, AGS in the latest approach restated its unwillingness to discuss or reopen the consultation on closing the pension scheme, which sets unacceptable preconditions for any further negotiations with Unite. Unite members at Aberdeen Airport have previously taken two 12-hour stoppages on 7 and 10 June at exactly the same time action was undertaken at Glasgow Airport. In April, Unite members at Aberdeen Airport supported strike action by 88.3 per cent on a 79.5 per cent turnout over the pay claim and the proposals to close the final salary pension scheme read more

Birmingham NHS maintenance and facilities staff to strike in ‘transfer to tax avoiding company’ row (13 June) – About 40 NHS maintenance and facilities staff at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, who face being transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) designed to avoid paying tax, will strike for three days later this month. Unite said porters, housekeepers, domestic assistants and maintenance staff, who are being transferred to Summerhill Services Ltd from 1 July, will strike on 24-26 June read more

First ever industrial action signalled at Scottish Qualifications Authority (13 June) – Strike action set for SQA. Unite the union has today (13 June) confirmed that it will hold discontinuous strike action at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on 26 June, 22 July and 6 August 2019. In May, Unite agreed to suspend industrial action on the basis of an Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) negotiated framework agreement between both parties. The Acas framework agreement resulted in the SQA being committed to a series of measures designed to address the restructuring issues that contributed to the substantial lack of trust and confidence in SQA management read more

Workers at Elton glass manufacturer hail two-year pay victory and call off strikes (11 June) – Workers at glass manufacturer Encirc Limited in Elton Cheshire have hailed victory in a dispute over pay. Unite’s 475 members voted by 78 per cent to accept the new two-year pay deal and, as a result, the four week strike action due to begin tomorrow (Wednesday 12 June) will not go ahead. The deal gives workers a pay boost of 3.1 per cent from January 2019, and a pay increase from January 2020 in line with the consumer price index (CPI) as of September 2019, plus a 1.0 per cent AVC pension contribution match and a 5.0 per cent bonus consolidated into basic pay for year two read more

Newham refuse workers ‘losing £20,000’ in decade-long council grading row to strike for 12 days (11 June) – Refuse workers employed by Newham council, who could have lost more than £20,000 each since 2007 in a dispute over grading, will strike for nearly a fortnight, Unite said today (Tuesday 11 June). Unite, which represents the majority of the refuse workers, warned that, if the strikes goes ahead, most of the household bins in the borough won’t be collected which could ‘create an unpleasant stench’ should there be a heatwave. The 45 refuse workers voted by 88 per cent to strike over the council’s failure to progress them through the grading structure which should, as agreed, have commenced 12 years ago in 2007/2008. The strike will run from 00:01 on Monday 24 June until 23:59 on Friday 5 July. However, both sides will hold talks under the auspices of the conciliation service, Acas next week. Unite has calculated that the potential loss of pay because of the failure to upgrade the workers amounts to £1,760 a year – a total of £21,000 over the last 12 years, depending on the service record of individual workers. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “Newham council has repeatedly failed to live up to the agreement it signed more than a decade ago for the progression from grade 3 to grade 4 and then grade 5 on the national pay scales, if the refuse workers had satisfactory appraisals…” read more

Further industrial action to take place at Glasgow Airport (10 June) – Unite the union has added a further day of industrial action following a 12 hour stoppage at Glasgow Airport today (10 June) and last Friday (7 June), which has caused widespread disruption to airport operations. The action undertaken involves airport security officers, airport fire safety, airfield operations officers, and engineering technicians has resulted in long delays at airport security. It has now been announced that a further four hour stoppage will take place on Monday 24 June 2019 between 06:00 to 10:00 to add to the forthcoming days of action: 14 June between 04:00-08:00 and 21 June between 08.30 and 14.30 read more

Lincolnshire health visitors balloted for strike action over ‘no pay rises’ and erosion of professional standards (7 June) – A total of 57 health visitors employed by Lincolnshire county council are being balloted on strike action over not getting paid the rate for the job and the erosion of their professional responsibilities which could adversely impact vulnerable families. It is believed to be the first time that the county’s health visitors have been balloted on strike action in defence of their pay and professional standards. The ballot closes on Thursday 27 June. Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said it calculates that its Lincolnshire health visitor members have lost more than £2,000 a year since they were transferred from the NHS to the county council in October 2017 read more

Hackney council blamed for new wave of strikes which will affect bussing disabled children to school – Hackney council is being blamed for six days of planned strikes by drivers and passenger escorts on school buses for disabled children in a new dispute over payments for working split shifts. Unite said its 38 members, who drive and assist the children to and from school on a daily basis, will stage six 24 hour strikes on 18, 20, 25 and 27 June as well as 4 and 9 July, all starting at 00.01. The staff voted unanimously for the new strike days. The dispute centres on a £50 a week claim for compensation for the split shifts, backdated to July last year when the issue was first raised. Unite said this claim is based on the next grade in the Green Book national agreement which the union believes is the correct one for this group of workers. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “This new dispute is a result of council bosses adamantly refusing to negotiate for nearly a year…” read more

Support the Swindon Honda workers – watch video of the March 30th demonstration against the planned closure of the plant

Bring British Steel into public ownership to avoid an industrial catastrophe, demands Unite – The government must bring British Steel into public ownership to avoid an economic and industrial catastrophe the UK and Ireland’s largest union, Unite said today (Wednesday 22 May) after it emerged the steelmaker is going into official receivership read more

Keep supporting Unite members on at Colloids Limited on Merseyside who are on indefinite strike to defend their union rep – The action comes after the dismissal of Unite union representative George Gore who was unfairly dismissed on Friday 8 February for an alleged breach of health and safety. For more information and to send messages of support and donations, please contact Patrick Coyne on 07568 106 243 and/or Unite communications officer Karen Viquerat on 0151 559 2004 or 07768 931 316. Unite press office is on 020 3371 2065. Email: [email protected]  read more

Workers at Luton Airport step up action with 49 day strike – Security guards employed by London Luton Airport will take strike action through most of June and July in a dispute over ‘heavy-handed’ changes to working time. The workers will begin their fourth period of strike action today (Wednesday 5 June) from 04:30 through to Tuesday 23 July at 20:59. Unite is meeting the airport with Acas next Wednesday (12 June) to try to resolve the dispute. London Luton Airport is imposing a new shift pattern affecting around 120 security guards which means the workforce will have to work an extra 15 days a year. Workers say the new shift pattern is taking a heavy toll on their well-being read more

Woolwich Ferry staff strike for 10 days in Groundhog Day safety dispute, says Unite – Workers, who operate the Woolwich Ferry used by an estimated 2.6 million passengers a year, are to strike for 10 days in a dispute over pay, health & safety, and lack of staffing. The 31 workers, members of Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, who are employed by Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd, voted unanimously for strike action The 24 hour strike dates are: 17, 20, 24, 28, and 31 May. This will be followed by five days in June on 3, 7, 10, 14 and 17 June. All stoppages will start at 00:01. The key issues in the dispute are the refusal to grant a six per cent pay increase for the year starting January 2019; the imposition of new duties; failure to deal with safety concerns; and lack of an adequate number of staff to operate the service. Two years ago, there was an acrimonious and long-running dispute at the ferry with the same employer, which runs the service on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), over a bullying culture and health & safety issues read more

Bromley library workers to strike on 6 June in staffing and pay dispute – Bromley library workers will strike continuously from Thursday 6 June to demand full staffing of Bromley’s libraries. The strike is also part of a campaign by Unite to give a big pay boost to workers employed by social enterprise leisure services’ giant Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). The 50 library staff, who are employed by GLL, voted by 98 per cent to strike on pay and also on issues specifically relating over  the running of Bromley’s 14 libraries. The Bromley dispute relates to GLL bosses not filling vacant posts; asking staff to be managers without paying the proper rate for the job; and failing to pay wages owed. Unite is seeking a six per cent increase in basic pay from April 2019 for its hundreds of  members working for GLL in more than 140  leisure centres and libraries in 16 London boroughs, as well as in Belfast. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “The near unanimous vote for strike action by our Bromley library members sends a strong message to GLL bosses that: ‘Enough is enough’. Our members will walk out on 6 June and strike until a settlement is reached – this action will lead to the closure of the borough’s 14 libraries…” read more   During the first week, starting 6th June, Unite are asking for support from 8 am to 11 am on the picket line at Bromley Central Library, High St, Bromley, BR1 1EX – please note that there will be no picket on Saturday

Please give your solidarity and send messages of support to the Woolwich and Bromley disputes and any financial assistance via Unite regional officer Onay Kasab [email protected]

Support the strike at Angus council – the strike action includes a ban on overtime and work to rule, will take place from April until late June 2019. The first days of industrial action will take place from 00:01 hours on 8 April 2019 concluding at 23:59 hours on 12th April 2019. A series of 48 hour stoppages will commence at 00:01 hours on:

 

RMT

RMT confirms action by Royal Navy lifeline workers in fight for “fair pay for RFA” (20 June) – Maritime union RMT confirmed today that it will be embarking upon a programme of industrial action involving nearly 700 workers at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – the Royal Navy supply lifeline – in a fight for pay justice. Despite repeated efforts by the union to reach a negotiated solution the employers have instead opted to impose a 1.5% increase, undermining the living standards of a crucial group of workers who have seen service in major trouble spots, including the Falklands and the Gulf, at huge personal risk. In a ballot of members over the derisory 1.5% offer there was an overwhelming vote for action signalling the strength of feeling amongst the workforce as we now move to into the campaign of industrial action. Consequently, with effect from 00:01 hours on Tuesday 2nd July 2019, until further notice, RFA members are instructed:-

  • Not to come back early from End of Voyage Leave , to join at the correct time and not to volunteer to extend if asked by the company.
  • Only to conduct Maritime and Coastguard Agency mandatory safety drills and not to take part in prism serials or any RFA specific drills. This would include any serials undertaken by FOST staff
  • Work contracted hours, not to carry out any work over and above contracted hours unless responding to emergencies.
  • Catering grade members are not to prepare any food for any social functions i.e. Cocktail parties and social gatherings for ships coming out of refits and stewards should refuse to work these social functions.
  • Not to carry out duties that would have been carried out by members of other departments taking industrial action.

Members who are participating in humanitarian and/or disaster relief operations or are reacting to a military conflict situation will be exempt from the above industrial action read more

RMT to protest at City Hall today over tube safety cuts (20 June) – As RMT protests at City Hall report reveals Tube bosses have given up ever restoring “insane” cuts to funding and MPs call for Mayor to take action to protect London Underground safety. As tube union RMT takes a cuts and safety protest to City Hall this morning the Mayor’s transport officials have admitted that they have given up on restoring funding to the Tube despite the cuts being labelled “insane” by Transport for London boss Mike Brown. The revelation buried away in notes of a discussion with passenger watchdog London Travel Watch quotes the Mayor’s top transport official as saying “Mr Brown remarked that the year had been the first financial year where their operating subsidy from the Government had been reduced from ‘£700 million to zero’…”) read more

RMT 24-Hour Strike on Bluestar Buses Goes Ahead (17 June) – BUS UNION RMT has confirmed that a 24-Hour action on Bluestar Buses in Eastleigh, Totton and Poole, after staff voted by an overwhelming 87% in favour of striking over pay, goes ahead as planned tomorrow. As a result of Bluestar’s failure to make a decent pay offer RMT members will take action for 24 hours tomorrow – Tuesday 18th June. RMT is making it clear that the company should be putting more effort into resolving the dispute instead of throwing money around, to tempt drivers from around the country, accommodating them in hotels and leaving those locations short of drivers in a drive to break the strike action read more read more

SWR five days of strike action goes ahead tomorrow as company refuse to give assurances on safe operation (17 June) – RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that five days of strike action on South Western Railway are going ahead tomorrow. The company have continued to drag their heels in protracted talks over the guard guarantee after the union suspended action back in February in good faith based on written assurances over the rolling out of driver only operation…We instruct our SWR Guard, Commercial Guard and Driver members to take industrial action by not booking on for duty between 00:01 to 23:59 hours from Tuesday 18th June-Saturday 22nd June 2019 read more    RMT members rock solid in strike action again this morning in continuing fight for safety on South Western Railway

RMT Chalks Up Major Victory in Fight for Maritime Pay (11 June) – Maritime union RMT today chalked up a significant victory in its fight for workplace justice in the maritime and offshore sector with the Government’s announcement that legislation will be introduced in September to extend the National Minimum Wage Act to cover seafarers working between UK ports and in the offshore energy supply chain read more

 

Unison

Court of Appeal finds in favour of UNISON in holiday pay dispute (10 June) – NHS workers who do overtime on a regular basis or frequently work beyond their normal shifts should now have these extra hours taken into account when their holiday pay is calculated, as a result of a landmark court victory by UNISON today (Monday). The Court of Appeal judgment found in favour of a paramedic and 12 of his colleagues who all work for the East of England Ambulance Service. The ambulance staff argued their holiday pay should better reflect the hours they actually worked, rather than be based solely upon their contracted hours. The ruling could benefit tens of thousands of NHS staff employed under the Agenda for Change payment system and is in line with earlier legal cases, which established that workers should receive the same wages on leave as they do when working. Only doctors, dentists and senior managers will be exempt from the change read more

UNISON Wins £9 an hour Pay Rise for Outsourced University of Salford Staff (13 June) – 80 staff employed by the multinational outsourcing company Compass at the University of Salford have won their campaign to be paid at least the real living wage of £9 an hour. UNISON members working in catering on University premises launched their campaign earlier this year. The University of Salford is a Living Wage Accredited employer and the terms of the accreditation state that all directly employed and regularly contracted staff should be paid the current rate of at least £9 an hour. In spite of the University’s public commitment to fair pay, Compass is currently paying University catering staff the National Minimum Wage of £8.21 an hour read more

 

PCS

Rally highlights plight of striking outsourced workers (19 June) – The disgrace of workers having to rely on a foodbank in the government department responsible for employment rights was highlighted by MPs at a rally opposite parliament in support of PCS strikers employed by outsourcing companies ISS and Aramark. Catering and cleaning staff at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy took their third consecutive day of strike action today, and it was the second day of a 3-day strike for porters and security staff. Again the picket line hosted around 50 strikers who made music and danced for 5 hours non-stop. They were visited by Rachel Reeves, Labour MP and chair of the BEIS select committee, who spoke in support of the strikers. Again, there was great support from BEIS civil servants, visitors to the department and passers-by. BEIS minister Greg Clark has refused to take responsibility for the situation, despite the fact the PCS branch needed to set up a foodbank due to ISS payment problems. The workers had the support of the FBU, who loaned us their fire truck, which took the strikers on a brief trip to Abingdon Place, opposite the Houses of Parliament where the strikers held the rally, where they were joined by colleagues employed by Interserve at the Foreign Office who were on strike last week over pay deductions. Several of the strikers spoke passionately about the difficulties they face as a result of low pay and not being paid sick leave or holiday pay. They explained how wages had stagnated while the cost of living continued to rise, how their employer did nothing to help but said their hands were tied by BEIS on wage levels, how they felt treated as second-class citizens, but how determined they were to win the dispute. The rally was addressed by PCS vice president Zita Holbourne, BEIS group president Marion Lloyd, shadow chancellor, John McDonnell MP, shadow BEIS secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, chair of the PCS Parliamentary Group, Chris Stephens and former CWU activist and now MP, Hugh Gaffney. All praised the action the strikers have taken to stand up for their rights and the fantastic example they have given to others around the country. They committed a future Labour government to an end to poverty pay, an end to outsourcing and to collective bargaining rights. They highlighted the disgrace of government workers having to rely on a foodbank set up by PCS reps in the department responsible for employment rights. How to support the ISS and Aramark strikers: You can support the workers on social media using the hashtags: #LivingWage #PCSstrike

Donate to the strike fund and send messages of support to [email protected]

National Gallery staff given less than 3 days to decide their future (20 June) – PCS has accused private firm Securitas of bullying National Gallery staff into accepting voluntary exit packages or drastic changes to their working conditions. Gallery assistants employed by private firm, Securitas, received voluntary exit offers yesterday (Wednesday 19) and were given until tomorrow (Friday 21) to decide whether to leave their employment or to continue under proposed changes that could drastically change their working conditions read more

ISS cleaning staff balloted for strike action (17 June) – HMRC cleaners in Bootle and Liverpool are being asked in a PCS ballot whether they want to strike over pay and conditions. Cleaners employed by private company ISS on the HMRC contract in Bootle and Liverpool are being balloted for strike action and action short of a strike. The ballot opens today (17) and will close on 1 July, when the result will be announced. Members working at four sites are involved: Imperial Court (Liverpool), Litherland House (Bootle), Regian House (Liverpool) and the Triad (Bootle). The demands are a minimum wage of £10 an hour (£11.55 in London), equivalent leave and sick pay with HMRC staff and job security. Job security is an issue because of HMRC’s office closure programme read more

Closure date of HMRC Ealing deferred (17 June) – Meaningful talks are underway between PCS and HMRC to explore ways of protecting the jobs and work/life balance of Ealing members. Under the department’s ‘Building Our Future’ plans, management had announced that its office in International House in Ealing would close in 2020/21. The department’s position was that the only option for members would be to move to Stratford in East London, well outside even HMRC’s own definition of “reasonable daily travel”. Faced with the prospect of major redundancies, PCS members in the office took five days of strike action in March and April, with the aim of securing meaningful negotiations with the department. Following a meeting between PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka, PCS group president Lorna Merry, and HMRC chief executive Jon Thompson, informal discussions took place. However when HMRC announced that ‘1:1s’ with Ealing staff would begin this month, and that the office would close as early as June 2020, PCS members made it clear that they were prepared to take further action. Further talks were then held between PCS and HMRC, and it was agreed that the department would defer both the planned 1:1s and the planned closure date for six months, in order to allow meaningful talks to take place. PCS takes this as a sign of good faith, and we are now exploring how we can best defend our members’ interests read more

Strikers confront Jeremy Hunt at FCO (11 June) – Pickets from Interserve got the opportunity to speak to foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt on his way into work this morning. There was a superb turnout on the picket line again on day two of the Interserve/Foreign and Commonwealth Office strike over pay and cuts to terms and conditions. Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary and Tory party leadership candidate, had to walk past the striking PCS members on his way into work. The members on the picket line asked him for a meeting to resolve the dispute. He asked for a strike leaflet and said he would read it and consider our request. We hope that he will give our workplace representatives the opportunity to explain and provide evidence of the continuing pay blunders experienced by our Interserve workers and the importance of trade union recognition to them read more

 

NIPSA

NIPSA launch industrial action ballot over Northern Ireland Civil Service (NCIS) pay

2018-19 NICS Pay Update – Management Side To Impose (7 June) – NIPSA met with Sue Gray, Permanent Secretary, DOF on Monday together with the Industrial Unions.  Jointly Trade Union Side made it clear that the current offer of 1.25% was totally unacceptable and fell well below our expectations.  As members are aware inflation (CPI) is 2% so for the ninth year in a row Civil Servants are receiving a pay cut in real terms. In a letter received this morning NIPSA have been advised that the offer will be imposed.  This is a cynical attempt to undermine the industrial action ballot which also launches today. I believe this will further demonstrate to members that the Management Side and the NICS Board do not believe their staff deserve a decent above inflation pay increase.  Civil Servants are continually expected to do more with less – this cannot continue. Therefore members should demonstrate loud and clear – Enough is Enough and vote ‘Yes’ for Strike Action and ‘Yes’ for Action Short of Strike Action. You should receive your ballot paper by 11/12 June.  Please return your ballot paper immediately read more

 

Prospect

Science Museum Group to ballot on industrial action over pay (10 June) – Prospect is to ballot its members in Science Museum Group on industrial action after the group imposed a below- inflation pay rise of 1.5%. This is the latest in a series of below-inflation pay rises which have left workers across the sector with a 13% real terms pay cut since 2010. The minimum hourly rate has also been increased, which is welcome but is still significantly below the Real Living Wage at £8.70 outside London (Real Living Wage £9.00) and £10.17 in London (London Living Wage is £10.55). The ballot of members affected opened on 10 June and closes on 1 July read more

 

CWU

CWU backs tomorrow’s TV Licence protests (June 20) – UK Pensioners will be protesting at BBC centres all across the country at noon tomorrow against plans to end their free TV Licence concessions. And the CWU is 100 per cent behind Britain’s OAP Army, as they demonstrate in defence of their rights in London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, and several other locations, with a Belfast protest planned for next week – the protests, which all begin at mid-day, are organised by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) read more

Swansea Parcelforce workers picket depot in support of victimised rep (12 June) – from local NSSN supporters & Swansea Trades Council members: Communication Workers Union (CWU) members at courier company Parcelforce set up a picket line on 12 June outside their Swansea depot. They walked out in support of their local union rep who is being threatened with disciplinary action, and who has been forced away from his job for the past 21 weeks. CWU members’ frustration at the lack of progress to resolve this dispute blew up when workers walked out in an attempt to remove this threat to their union rep. There is recognition that if any victimisation by a bullying management is left unchallenged, then further attacks on members would almost certainly take place. The large numbers of CWU members on the picket were determined to defend their rep and to ensure he returns to work immediately and continues to defend their interests. CWU officials were on site attempting to resolve this longstanding dispute read more

 

NEU

Grove Academy action (19 June) – Staff take 2 more days of action to protect the most vulnerable students in North Yorkshire and form the “Working together walk”. The first joint strike action planned for 19th and 20th June at The Grove Academy, extending throughout June. Members will be covering over 10 miles as they march around the 6 Harrogate schools The Grove Academy Pupil Referral Unit serves. Leadership at each of these schools will be present for a photograph to express their support for The Grove and its staff read more

Together for Education Rally – Jeremy Corbyn and Mayor of London now confirmed (18 June) – This coming Saturday, parents, MPs, councillors and trade unionists meet in London for the Together for Education rally. At this event, a figure will be announced of how much money is needed to rectify school and college funding and we will also plan next steps in the campaign against real-terms funding cuts. Among the many speakers listed below, we can now confirm that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will address the rally, alongside Layla Moran of the Liberal Democrats, Conservative councillor James McInnes representing the F40 group, and Vix Lowthion from the Green Party. VENUE: Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London SW1H 9NH; DATE: Saturday 22 June 2019; TIME: 10.30 – 15.00hrs followed by ‘Garden of cuts’ photo opportunity* in Parliament Square read more   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/together-for-education-tickets-59221505116

Boycott High Stakes Summative Testing in Primary Schools read more about this campaign

 

NASUWT

Teachers to strike at Flintshire school (17 /June) – Members of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at Connah’s Quay High School in Flintshire are taking the first of three planned days of strike action tomorrow (Tuesday) over adverse management practices which are having a detrimental effect on the working conditions and welfare of members read more

Teachers to strike at Oxford school to protect pensions (17 June) – Members of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union at St Edwards School in Oxford are to take strike action on Friday 21 June over plans by their Employer to withdraw from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme from September 2020 read more

 

UCU

Three-day strike at Bradford College in rows over pay and jobs (19 June) – Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Bradford College will take three days’ strike action next month after staff backed industrial action in rows over job cuts and pay. In ballots that closed yesterday, 94% of members who voted backed strikes in the row over plans to cut jobs and 86% backed action to defend pay. Staff will walk out on Wednesday 3 July, Thursday 4 July and Friday 5 July. The college wants to axe 131 jobs in a bid to save money, but UCU said that the loss of valuable expertise would result in fewer opportunities for local people. UCU members at Bradford College have already walked out for seven days of strikes this year in the row over pay read more

July strike date announced at Nottingham College in contracts row (14 June) – Staff at Nottingham College will walk out on Monday 1 July as part of a row over the college’s plans to impose new contracts, with UCU threatening more walkouts if the dispute cannot be resolved. In the recent ballot, 96% of UCU members who voted backed strike action read more

Strike ballot at Sandwell College as row over sacked UCU activist escalates (14 June) – A row at Sandwell College over the “heavy-handed” sacking of UCU activist Dave Muritu has escalated with staff being asked to back strike action. The strike ballot will open on Friday 21 June and close on Friday 12 July. The row centres on the sacking of the maths lecturer for writing on a poster promoting the controversial Prevent programme. Although Dave admitted to the incident and apologised for his actions, the college dismissed him at the end of May. UCU said such a heavy-handed and disproportionate response from the college had to be down to Dave’s trade union activities. Dave is the local branch secretary of UCU, and played a key role in negotiating a landmark pay deal for staff last year read more   National UCU protest this Saturday 12.30pm Spon Park, West Bromwich B70 6 Facebook event

 

FBU

Fire service employers ‘on notice’ after failure to announce pay rise (12 June) – Firefighter pay talks came to a standstill at the latest meeting of the National Joint Council (NJC). Employers offered no increase in pay for firefighters, despite a pay rise being due on 1st July. As a result, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) gave a clear warning. Discussions had been developing between the union and employers on the role of firefighters. The work of a firefighter has significantly altered over recent years, to include work which is often outside of contract. In March, members were consulted and overwhelmingly rejected a derisory pay proposal which would have resulted in a ‘non-exhaustive’ list of additional work. Last month at FBU conference, members voted to prepare for industrial action. At the meeting, the union made it clear that this has left them no choice but to urgently consider preparing for a trade dispute and to discuss industrial action with members. Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Our members have given us a clear mandate. We will not stand idly by while firefighters are taken for granted at every turn. We are open to dialogue on expanding the role of firefighters, but we are resolutely clear that this must be coupled with a fair and decent pay rise. Today, employers have failed to deliver this. We’ll continue talking to employers, but this should be a warning – we have put them on notice. We’ll be urgently discussing the next steps in our campaign, including how we prepare for a trade dispute, and a discussion with members about industrial action” read more

 

NUJ

Edinburgh journalists vent fury over job cuts (20 June) – An angry meeting of National Union of Journalist members has gone public over its fury with its employer’s latest round of redundancies. Scotsman Publications Ltd is still working through a voluntary redundancies’ procedure that could result in 10 employees leaving the company. The titles affected are The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News and Scotland on Sunday read more

 

USDAW

Usdaw calls for strike action at Sainsbury’s Distribution Centre (13 June) – Following yesterday’s overwhelming ballot result, Usdaw has now informed Sainsbury’s of our intention to take strike action on Thursday, 27 June 2019. The strike action, which will start at 6am and last for 24 hours, will affect warehouse workers at Sainsbury’s Waltham Point Distribution Centre read more

 

IWGB

NHS medical couriers landmark Million-pound holiday pay claim to be heard next week (19 June) – The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) will be facing NHS contractor The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) in a landmark holiday pay claim on 25 and 26 June. IWGB General Secretary Dr Jason Moyer-Lee will be representing 45 medical couriers that are claiming over £1 million in unpaid holidays stretching back up to 20 years. The case will be heard at the London Central Employment Tribunal. He will be arguing that the recent decision on King v Sash Window Workshop by the Court of Justice of the European Union removes previous restrictions on holiday pay claims when workers have been denied their right to paid holidays read more

 

 

 

Other news

Engage for Change Festival in Hull – this Saturday June 22nd from 12:00-18:00 in Queen’s Gardens, Hull. Admission: Free. Facebook event

 

Fire safety campaign on Barking Riverside estate

Dear brothers and sisters,

Fire Safety Campaign Fund

Due to the recent atrocious fire at Samuel Garside House in DePass Gardens, the Barking Reach Residents Association (BRRA) has setup a fire safety campaign fund in order to assist Barking Riverside residents on fire safety issues within the estate.

Funds will be used to campaign for particular causes, such as pushing for the removal of wooden cladding and other flammable materials from building structure all around the estate, legal support for those affected residents, and campaigning for the reallocation of such residents, for instance.

Click the PayPal link below to donate:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5DPAVQ3VDKZCW&source=url

Your contribution is very important and will help the RA go further towards the campaigning.

Cheers

Venilia Amorim,

Treasurer

Barking Reach residents association

 

 

Solidarity Day 2019 – Hosted by Tamil Solidarity: Saturday, 29 June 2019 from 11:30-16:00 Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1T 6AQ London, United Kingdom

Bringing together oppressed communities, trade unionists and students – building the fightback against all oppression

Come along and join us. We got two lively discussions:

  • Muslims under seige – Sri Lankan state repression and building resistant
  • Rights of minority and the role of trade unions

ALL WELCOME

Email: [email protected]

Phone :Mathan 07454471030

Facebook event

 

 

 

Blacklisting & Victimisation

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

Blacklisted t-shirts available at: https://shop.hopenothate.org.uk/component/hikashop/product/78-blacklisted-t-shirt

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

 

 

 

International

Pro-Beijing regime in Hong Kong pushed back by millions-strong protests read more

Spain: Unions fight to reinstate hotel housekeepers dismissed for demanding rights and recognition read more

Japan: Ready-mix concrete workers protest with other GU members. Arrests in the last four days have pushed the total to over 70. The point was made by a speaker from the All Japan Dockworkers Union that this level of repression is unprecedented in the history of the post WWII Japanese labour movement. One of the union leaders has been arrested and rearrested four times. Yet not a single member of the Diet, even those who represent parties that claim to be left-wing have spoken out. None of the major news papers, even the “liberal” ones have covered what is happening here. We discussed with activists what we could do to launch an international campaign since they are drawing the conclusion that the only way this is going to get into the Japanese press in its present tame and controlled state is if the issue gets into the press internationally – from a NSSN supporter 

 

 

Diary

 

2019

July

6 NSSN Conference Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Facebook event

13 Durham Miners Gala https://www.durhamminers.org/gala

19-21 Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival https://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/festival

 

September

8 NSSN TUC Rally Brighton

 

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