NSSN 594: Support the summer strikes!

The strike wave steps up over the next week. Alongside the increasing number of localised disputes, with many resulting in workers winning victories, three national strikes are taking place.

On Wednesday, the RMT is striking for the fourth day in its national rail dispute. On Saturday, ASLEF will be walking out in 8 rail companies. On both days, TSSA members will also be taking action – first in Avanti West Coast and then in Great Western Railways.

And this coming Friday and next Monday 40,000 CWU members in British Telecom and Openreach will be striking – the first national action in BT for 35 years. The CWU has also just won a national strike ballot in Royal Mail by a massive vote and is now launching another strike vote in the company.

These developments are further confirmation that workers facing the cost of living crisis are prepared to fight to stop their living standards being eroded by the employers and this crisis-ridden Tory government. There are also clear signs that public sector unions are moving towards industrial action ballots after the summer.

But we are stronger if we fight together. The NSSN believes that it is vital that the unions come together in the fight for inflation-proof pay rises.

The recent NSSN Conference agreed to build support for the rally that we are again hosting to lobby TUC Congress in Brighton in September to call for co-ordinated action of unions across the private and public sectors.

There will be a rally in the Holiday Inn Hotel and then a march to lobby TUC Congress delegates at the Brighton Centre.

NSSN TUC Rally 2022

Fight the Tory pay insult: Come to the NSSN TUC Congress Rally & Lobby #StrikeTogether – 1pm Sunday 11th September Holiday Inn Brighton Seafront Facebook event

Please support this model motion and take it to your union branch and trades council and support the NSSN rally and lobby in Brighton:-

“This (union branch/trades council) gives our full support to workers being forced to take strike action against their employers backed by the Tory government. The cost of living crisis, fire and rehire tactics and other attacks by employers in pursuit of maintaining profits at our expense all mean workers are uniting to fight back.

We will continue to give our solidarity, building practical and financial support to all striking workers. The increasing number of disputes shows the immense power of workers. If unions act together, significant victories can be won. We also oppose the Tories’ threats to introduce further anti-union legislation to the raft of undemocratic restrictions already in existence and call on the TUC to co-ordinate opposition.

We call on unions in struggle to urgently come together to discuss and formulate a strategy to co-ordinate industrial action ballots and strikes.

We therefore agree to build the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) rally and lobby of TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday 11 September behind this call.”

Please let us know if your union branch/trades council supports our rally and we’ll add to our list of supporting union organisations. Let us know if your union organisation or campaign would like a stall table at the rally.

If you want to attend the NSSN TUC Rally and need transport and/or you want leaflets and posters to give out, email us via [email protected]. To make a donation to the NSSN and/or get your union branch/trades council to affiliate for an annual fee of £50, either make a cheque out to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’ and post to NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE or pay online: HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790.

Watch the video of the NSSN Conference platform speakers here

This is the video that was played before the start of the recent NSSN Conference – showing many of the disputes that we’ve supported over the last year

 

CWU strikes back

Postal workers expose ‘dishonourable’ bosses – pay fight extends to Pathway to Change (July 22) – CWU News looks back over an historic few days, as temperatures rose to unprecedented levels across the nation and the heat rose on Royal Mail too. Following the 97.6 per cent YES vote announced earlier this week in the pay strike ballot, members will be receiving a new ballot paper next week, again asking for a YES vote – but this time to protect our recently agreed company-wide change programme. It was on the day when the UK experienced its hottest-ever temperatures that the national briefing had been called to announce the pay vote result and to update and discuss the next steps. And, in the circumstances, attendance was understandably much reduced. But the cheers that greeted the news more than made up for the smaller numbers. Our general secretary Dave Ward and our deputy general secretary postal Terry Pullinger each spoke to the assembled activists and then answered questions from them, setting out the reasons why strikes would not be called immediately and that it would be right to give the company an opportunity to think again on pay. But that, in the event of a clear refusal to budge – action would be called. And the further point was made that the attitudes of senior company chiefs with regard to the Pathway to Change agreement was making a second, separate ballot on the defence of this agreement almost certain read more

CWU serve notice of 2nd strike ballot over Royal Mail management’s change proposals (20 July)

CWU: BT Group members set to strike on 29 July & 1 August (July 18) – Over 40,000 BT Group workers to hold a two-day national strike against real-terms pay cuts, with senior management accused by our general secretary Dave Ward as having “stuck two fingers up” to key workers. The announcement followed a strike ballot, in which Openreach engineers voted for action by 95.8 per cent and members in BT returned a 91.5 per cent majority for the walkout. The dispute centres on workers opposing the imposition by the business of a far-below-inflation, flat-rate, £1,500pa pay settlement on employees, which is a dramatic real-terms pay cut when compared to RPI inflation levels of over 11 per cent. It is also in the context of BT making £1.3 billion in annual profit, with CEO Philip Jansen gaining a £3.5 million pay package – a 32 per cent wage increase – while the Big Issue and the BBC have reported instances of BT offices establishing food banks to assist employees. These members look after the vast majority of Britain’s telecoms infrastructure, from mobile phone connection, broadband internet and back-up generators to national heath systems, cyber security and data centres. The strike action is also likely to have a serious effect on the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband and may cause significant issues for those working from home. It is the first strike action at BT Group since 1987, and the first national call-centre workers’ strike. Our general secretary Dave Ward said: “For the first time since 1987, strike action will now commence at BT Group. This is not a case of an employer refusing to meet a union’s demands – this is about an employer refusing to meet us whatsoever. The serious disruption this strike may cause is entirely down to Philip Jansen and his friends, who have chosen to stick two fingers up to their own workforce…” read more

CWU: ‘Most solid strike yet’ by Crown Post Office workers (July 11) – CWU representatives around the UK report strengthening support for the union’s fair pay fight, with Crown Offices shut for the day and ‘good luck’ messages to pickets from the public. Picket lines appeared at Post Offices across the UK today, as fed-up counter staff took their third day of strike action in their ongoing struggle to ensure they and their families get a fair reward for their hard work and dedication to the public, as well as a financial recognition of the harsh effects of the sharp rise in the cost of living. CWU News spoke with some of our CWU representatives from different parts of the country as they looked back on another day of industrial action read more

New CWU strike to halt cash deliveries & collections at all 11,500 UK post offices (July 1) – Union calls out Supply Chain and Admin members and warns Post Office bosses to ‘stop the spin and get serious on pay’. Andy Furey, national officer for the CWU’s Post Office members, announced yesterday that hundreds of cash and valuables in transit (CViT) workers and their cash processing and administrative colleagues will resume strike action on Thursday the 14th July read more

 

Support the rail strikes

Donate to the RMT National Dispute Fund

List of RMT picket locations for Wednesday July 27 national strike

List of ASLEF picket lines for Saturday July 30th strikes

BREAKING NEWS!! New Tube Strike announced (26 July) – Tube workers will take strike action in an ongoing dispute over pensions and jobs on August 19. The latest call for action has been prompted by TfL’s refusal to share the details of a draft government proposal they received regarding funding of the transport system in the capital, in secret and without any discussion with their recognised trade unions read more

BREAKING NEWS!! Mick Lynch message (26 July) – On the eve of the latest date of the national rail dispute, Mick Lynch RMT General Secretary has a message for members watch video here

BREAKING NEWS!! TSSA members to strike across railways (25 July) – TSSA has today served notice for strike action and action short of strike in 11 train operating companies in an industry-wide dispute over pay, job security and conditions. Thousands of rail workers spanning station staff, operational, maintenance, supervisory and management staff, will take part in industrial action on 18 and 20 August. This is the first rail-industry wide industrial action taken by TSSA in more than a generation, demonstrating the strength of feeling over pay and job security as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. Strike action will be taken on 18 and 20 August in: Avanti West Coast, c2c, East Midlands Railway, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, LNER, and Southeastern. Action short of strike will be taken in: West Midlands Trains, Northern, Greater Anglia, TransPennine Express and Southeastern. Check the details of types of industrial action short of strike and specific times and dates for each company in this post

RMT launches bid to save Britain’s railway ticket offices (23 July) – RAIL UNION RMT will attempt to stop the closure of all ticket offices on the railway network with a mass campaign across the country. Almost 1,000 ticket offices are set to close with the loss of thousands of jobs and creating accessibility problems for different types of travellers. These include the elderly, people with disabilities and foreign visitors who may not have English as their first language. Elderly and disabled people, and people on low incomes are less likely to have access to the internet and are excluded by the push towards online and electronic ticketing. Without ticket offices and on station support, huge swathes of passengers could be excluded from the railways altogether. The planned closure of ticket offices is part of a wider industry attack on jobs and services read more

RMT confirms national rail strike to go ahead next Wednesday (22 July) Over 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will walkout next Wednesday, (27 July) after no breakthrough in talks. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Strike action will take place next Wednesday as planned and our members are more determined than ever to secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions.  “Network Rail have not made any improvement on their previous pay offer and the Train Companies have not offered us anything new. In fact Network Rail have upped the ante threatening to impose compulsory redundancies and unsafe 50% cuts to maintenance work, if we did not withdraw our planned strike action. The train operating companies have put driver only operations on the table along with ransacking our members terms and conditions. RMT will continue to negotiate in good faith but we will not be bullied or cajoled by anyone. “The government need to stop their interference in this dispute so the rail employers can come to a negotiated settlement with us.”

RMT: National rail strikes set for 18 and 20 August (14 July) – RMT will take a further 2 days strike action this Summer in a row over job security, pay and working conditions. The strikes on August 18 and 20, will bring out over 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies. RMT is also taking 24 hours strike action on 27 July read more

ASLEF Announces 30th July Strike Date (14 July) – ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, has announced a day of strike action after train companies failed to make a pay offer to keep pace with the increase in the cost of living…ASLEF members at eight companies – Arriva Rail London; Chiltern Railways; Greater Anglia; Great Western; Hull Trains; LNER; Southeastern; and West Midlands Trains – will strike on Saturday 30 July read more

TSSA issues new ballots for strike action (21 July) – Rail union TSSA has announced plans to reissue ballots for strike action at four train operating companies where members recently voted to strike but the legal threshold for walkouts was narrowly missed as a result of anti-trade union laws read more

TSSA: Ballots will be held at West Midlands Trains, Greater Anglia, Northern and TransPennine Express – Ballots open: Thursday 28 July; Ballots close: Thursday 25 August. The original ballot of members, at each company, saw the legal threshold for strike action – which is 40 per cent of the entire electorate – missed by fine margins and in one case by just a single vote. Given that among those who voted there was an overwhelming preference to strike, the union is determined that the wishes of members are fulfilled read more

TSSA: GWR staff to take industrial action on 30th July (15 July) – TSSA members in Great Western Railways will take industrial action short of strike on Saturday 30 July in a move that will affect contingency cover for train drivers’ union Aslef’s strike action that day. TSSA represents a wide range of staff at GWR, including station and ticket office staff, clerical and admin staff, driver standards managers and other senior roles. Members voted 81% in favour of taking industrial action short of strike in a ballot which closed this week (13 July) read more

TSSA announces 27th July strike date at Avanti West Coast (13 July) – TSSA members in station grades at Avanti West Coast will hold a one day strike on Wednesday 27 July. The action covers the period from 00:01 to 23:59 on that date and coincides with the RMT strike action the same day. Avanti – the west coast mainline operator- was the first of a dozen train companies plus Network Rail which were successfully balloted for industrial action by TSSA. The dispute is over pay, job security and conditions read more

 

Public sector pay insult

BREAKING NEWS!! Unions react to pay offer for council and school staff (25 July) – The three unions representing council and school staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have today (Monday) reacted to the £1,925 flat rate pay offer from the local government employers:  Unite acting national officer Clare Keogh said: “Council workers have already suffered over a decade of below-inflation wage rises and this is another pay cut dressed up as a pay increase.  “The cost-of-living crisis is hitting council workers hard, many already can’t afford to make ends meet, spiralling food costs and energy bills will more than swallow the pay offer being proposed.” Unison head of education and local government Mike Short said: “Council and school workers are enduring a major cost of living crisis, with inflation running at over 11%. This offer is better than council and school employees might have expected, given the low pay rises of recent years.  It shows local government employers are beginning to understand the financial nightmare school and council staff are living through. But it’s not enough to make up for a decade and more of lost wages.” GMB national secretary Rehana Azam said: “Local government and schools workers kept our vital institutions running during the pandemic. Now, like everyone else, they’re being pushed to the brink by the cost-of-living crisis. Whilst real terms pay cuts risk exacerbating the staffing crisis, we recognise this is an offer that warrants further scrutiny so we can assess its impact on our members. GMB will now meet with reps and members to discuss the next steps.” Back in June, UNISON, GMB and Unite submitted a joint claim calling for a pay boost of at least £2,000 for all council and school staff. Unions will now consult with their members over the offer read more on Unite website

BREAKING NEWS!! NIPSA: NJC Pay Offer 2022/23 (25 July) – Please find below the 2022/23 NJC pay offer. You will notice that it is far below our members reasonable expectations and that industrial action is now a real prospect. Meetings of relevant Panels will be convened to give the offer due consideration read more

 

DoctorsVote Protest Against the Pay Cut – 6.30pm Monday 25th July outside Department for Health and Social Care – 39 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0 Facebook event

 

Stop union victimisation: support the Coventry bin strike

The Labour council has disgracefully targeted Pete Randle, one of the senior Unite shop stewards. We call on all our supporters to support Pete and his striking members

Sign petition to Councillor George Duggins – Coventry Council: Reinstate Pete Randle, stop union busting, stop strike breaking and pay the rate

100 per cent strike vote by HGV drivers sends determined message to Coventry Council (7 June) – In a resounding show of unity and determination, striking HGV drivers in Coventry have voted to renew their strike mandate and continue industrial action into the summer. Putting pressure on Coventry council to settle with the union, 100 per cent of those workers who voted support continuing strike action until an agreement is reached. The HGV drivers have been on all out-strike since 31 January in a dispute over low pay and the council’s refusal to pay the HGV refuse lorry drivers the market rate for the job read more

Follow @UniteWestMids on twitter. Coventry bin worker’s strike fund – Unity Trust Bank; Name of Account: Unite WM/7116 Branch Coventry Local Government; Account number: 20302665 Sort code: 60-83-01; send messages of solidarity to [email protected]

 

Solidarity with GMB after Wealden bin strike victory but protest against picket line arrests

Wealden bin strike ends in seventh week with massive pay deal for workers (14 June) – GMB union members have today accepted an improved pay offer to end the refuse strike within Wealden District Council. Their employer Biffa’s latest pay offer will constitute a pay rise of more than 27 per cent for some workers. The total value of the settlement is worth between 24 and 27 per cent, depending on which job they do. Kerbside collections within Wealden will recommence from tomorrow [Wednesday 15 June]. The strike ends after 6 weeks and 2 days of action which garnered many messages of support and solidarity from local residents read more

Solidarity with GMB as arrests made on Wealden bin strike picket – The NSSN like many others in the trade union movement sent solidarity to the GMB after officers and a member were arrested recently. They remained in police custody for hours but were released later that day. This was an outrageous act. The NSSN will continue to support the GMB and its members in Wealden. Donate to GMB Southern region fighting fund. There is a protest to support the three officials who got arrested last week on the Wealden Biffa picket line. Three of them have been charged with obstructing a public highway and were ordered to appear at Hastings Magistrates Court on 29th June. The case was adjourned to Brighton Crown Court on November 16th – come and support the #GMB3

GMB responding to reports of arrests on Wealden refuse strike picket line this morning (27 May)

 

NSSN news

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. Feel free to use this affiliation letter.

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

Progress made on Night Tube betrayal dispute (21 July) – Imposition of Night Tube Duties, Train Operators – London Underground. From Mick Lynch RMT General Secretary: I am pleased to report that, following over 20 sessions at ACAS and with London Underground management having previously shown no sign of shifting, progress has now been made on the Night Tube dispute. As you will know, this dispute began after management ripped up agreements that Night Tube duties would not be imposed on members and that the service would be run on a voluntary basis read more

Night Tube strike suspended following offer from Tube management (19 July) – The RMT National Executive Committee has taken the decision to accept an offer on Night Tube from London Underground, to agree a minimum number on each line who wish to preference Night Tube duties. RMT’s Train Functional Council will meet to discuss the implementation of this and assist local reps in monitoring of all Night Tube duties being carried out by volunteers. Accordingly the NEC has suspended all Night Tube industrial action with immediate effect. The dispute is not resolved, but we will remain vigilant and monitor the situation on the ground read more

Tory Government P&O Ferries shame (20 July) – SEAFARERS Union RMT today reacted with shock at the news that the Government has signed a contract with P&O Ferries, who sacked nearly 800 UK resident seafarers in March and immediately replaced them with agency crew, some on pay below the National Minimum Wage and required to work for months at sea. The Second Reading of the Government’s Seafarers Wages Bill, the core element of the Department for Transport’s 9-point plan in response to P&O’s actions, will take place in the House of Lords later today. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “This is a new low, even by this zombie Government’s sinkhole standards read more

Churchill cleaners continue their fight for a £15 per hour (16 July) – Cleaners on GTR, Network Rail, HS1 and South East Trains are back on the picket lines today on the final day of a three day strike over pay. Cleaners on GTR, Network Rail, HS1 and South East Trains are back on the picket lines today on the final day of a three day strike over pay. RMT members who are employed by the outsourcing company Churchill are campaigning for a pay rise to tackle the cost of living crisis, company sick pay and free travel for cleaning staff across the network, to bring them in line with every other railway workers on the network. Due to the cost-of-living crisis with prices rising at their fastest rate in 30 years and inflation running at 11.7 percent, these workers need a pay rise now. Churchill made a £10 million profit last year and paid a £12 million dividend in 2020 but the company is refusing to raise cleaners’ wages to a liveable standard read more

 

ASLEF

Britain’s train drivers’ union announces strike action on Greater Anglia, Hull Trains and tram drivers in south London – ASLEF, the train drivers’ trade union, have announced strike action over pay:-

[i] Drivers at Greater Anglia will strike between 00:01 and 23:59 Thursday 23 June 2022.

[ii] Drivers at Hull Trains will strike between 00:01 and 23:59 on Sunday 26 June.

[iii] And tram drivers in south London will strike for a fair pay deal from 00:01 on Tuesday 28 June until 23:59 on Wednesday 29 June and from 00:01 on Wednesday 13 July until 23:59 on Thursday 14 July read more

 

Unite

Arriva bus drivers in Essex and Kent balloting for strike action over low pay (25 July) – Eight hundred Unite members employed as bus drivers by Arriva in Kent and Essex, are being balloted for industrial action in a dispute over pay. The ballot closes on Friday 12 August and if the workers vote for industrial action then strikes could begin before the end of next month. Despite extensive negotiations Arriva has only been prepared to offer a 7.8 per cent pay increase, which is a substantial pay cut with the real inflation rate (RPI) currently standing at 11.8 per cent. The bus drivers earn as little as £12.12 an hour read more

Unite wins a cost of living payment for TSB lowest paid workers (25 July) – Those earning £35,000 or less will get the pay boost. Unite, the union representing workers at TSB has today been successful in securing an additional cost of living payment for around 4,500 staff at TSB. The £1,000 payment will be paid in two stages – in October 2022 and then the remainder in February 2023 read more

North Sea strike to hit Foinaven vessel (25 July) – 96% vote for strike action over inferior redundancy package. Unite the union today (25 July) confirmed that its members operating the Foinaven Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) have voted to take strike action. 96 per cent voted for strike action on an 84 per cent turnout. Continuous strike action is now scheduled to take place from 5 August. The dispute centres on offshore members being given a significantly inferior redundancy package compared with Altera’s onshore workforce.  The Foinaven field is situated approximately 120 miles west of the Shetland Isles within the Faroes/Shetland Trough. Production from the field was suspended in 2021 read more

Glasgow Subway workers vote for strike action (25 July) – First Rangers home game to be hit by walk-out. Unite has confirmed that its Glasgow subway members have voted for strike action with the first Rangers home game (6 August) of the season against Kilmarnock set to be hit by the walk-out. Unite members voted by 99 per cent for strike action on a 83 per cent turnout. The 24-hour strike action is scheduled to take place on the following days: Saturday 6 August, Tuesday 9 August, Saturday 13 August, Saturday 27 August. The dispute centres on the subway system operators Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) enforcing changes to duty schedules. Unite members are increasingly being called in to work shifts at short notice leading to significant work-life pressures read more

Peabody investigation: opportunities missed – Lessons of cuts to neighborhood management not leaned. Large patch sizes at Peabody contributed to failure that allowed resident’s dead body to lie undiscovered for nearly two years. Staff and resident warnings of devasting consequences of cuts were ignored and have not been addressed in latest report. Housing workers and housing association tenants will study the findings of an investigation into the death of a Peabody resident whose body went undiscovered for two years with concern. Inside Housing’s headline is telling, “Large patch sizes at Peabody contributed to failure that allowed resident’s dead body to lie undiscovered for nearly two years.” Read more

Further pay rise at Sanctuary follows protest – 9% increase on top of earlier 4% increase. It has just been confirmed that Sanctuary Housing Association have just awarded a 9% rise to the trades workers. This comes after an earlier 4% in their salary. This is a huge victory for the trades section, and nothing more than they deserve. It should also be a vote of confidence in Unite the union who have supported and encouraged workers to raise their voice. Unite has been organising in Sanctuary over the last few months and held a protest last Saturday outside their Wood Green office. A clear warning was sent to Senior management that unless they increased their pay offer, they ran the risk of provoking a strike. We are glad that they listened to workers and took that threat seriously read more

Heathrow refuelling strikes off after Unite secures ‘fantastic’ pay deal (22 July) – AFS workers receive 12.5% rise, increase in weekend overtime rates plus £2,500 bonus. The workers are employed by Aviation Fuel Services (AFS), which is responsible for refuelling half of the non-British Airways traffic at Heathrow airport. This includes airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, United, Singapore, KLM, American, Emirates, Air France and Delta. The 12.5 per cent increase means that the workers’ basic annual salary will rise by £4,939.21. Along with the increase to the weekend overtime rate, the percentage pay rise will be backdated to April read more

AFS Heathrow refuelling strike suspended as new offer on table (20 July)

SQA workforce to consider strike action due to derisory 1.7% pay offer (22 July) – Strike action could hit student appeals process. Unite the union has today (22 July) confirmed that its Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) members could take strike action directly hitting the student appeals process. On an 85 percent turnout, 95 per cent rejected the pay offer, with 84 per cent indicating that they would be prepared to strike. The offer is worth a maximum of 4 per cent for some staff but as little as 1.7 per cent for a significant number of long-serving SQA staff just as inflation (RPI) soared to hit a forty-year high at 11.8 per cent. Unite confirmed that it will now launch an industrial action ballot involving its SQA members in the coming weeks. The trade union represents hundreds of SQA workers across all levels of staff and functions. Unite has also reiterated its serious ongoing concerns in relation to the proposed disbanding of the SQA read more

British Airways check-in dispute over as workers accept significant pay offer (22 July) – BA’s improved offer clocks 13% increase. The prospect of industrial action by check-in staff employed by British Airways at Heathrow airport has ended after workers accepted a significant pay offer. Over 500 members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, had overwhelmingly voted for industrial action as a result of British Airways refusing to reinstate the 10 per cent pay cut imposed on the workforce during the pandemic. However, following extensive negotiations the company made a new offer which members were balloted on and accepted read more

UK government must act now to secure future of Tata’s Welsh plants (22 July) – Unite the union has expressed its grave concern for the future of Tata’s flagship Port Talbot plant following comments made by the Tata Group chairman. Speaking to the Financial Times Natatajan Chandrasekran has said that Port Talbot and Tata’s other Welsh sites may have to close unless the UK government financially supports its move to the production of greener steel read more

Aviation workers are at the end of their tether due to excessive hours warns Unite (22 July) – Sticking plaster of excessive overtime only thing keeping things going. Research by Unite, the UK’s leading union, has found that aviation workers across the entire sector are working excessive hours to keep the sector functioning. With increased demand for flights about to start with the beginning of the school holidays this weekend, Unite is urging passengers to treat workers with respect and to understand that they are working in extremely difficult circumstances. In the majority of cases workers report working 60 hours (including 20 hours of overtime) a week as standard. Although in an extreme case Unite has discovered workers being expected to work between 80 and 90 hours a week read more

Feet on the street needed at The People’s Kitchen march and demonstration over rising death toll among Belfast homeless (22 July) – Unite the union is lending its support to a demonstration and march in Belfast on 23 July called by The People’s Kitchen and a wider coalition of homeless charities in response to the recent spate of deaths on the streets read more

Unite secures 12% pay deal for Sainsbury’s HGV drivers in Basingstoke (22 July) – Unite, the UK’s leading union, has secured a 12 per cent pay deal for around 200 Sainsbury’s HGV drivers in Basingstoke. The drivers, who deliver stock to stores across the region, voted by 92 per cent in favour of the one-year deal. The deal is above the real rate of inflation, RPI, which currently stands at 11.8 per cent. It was negotiated without industrial action read more

Call for DHL supply chain workforce at Spirit Aerosystems in Northern Ireland to vote ‘Yes’ for industrial action over threatened real terms pay cut (21 July) – Industrial action at DHL would paralyse production at Spirit sites in Northern Ireland. Unite the union which represents workers employed by DHL supply chain working at Spirit Aerosystems sites in Northern Ireland is calling on its members to vote for industrial action in an ongoing strike ballot. The ballot was initiated by the union after management offered the vast majority of its members a meagre four percent consolidated pay increase – alongside a one off cash payment. Unite officials branded the move a real-terms pay cut and encouraged workers to vote for industrial action as the only appropriate response read more

Sandwell refuse strikes off as workers accept improved offer (21 July) read more

Hackney Council workers to strike again on July 25, 27 and 29 read more

Prestwick Airport workers support strike action as Unite fights back over rock bottom pay (20 July) – 78% vote for action in fight against pay cut. Prestwick Airport workers have overwhelmingly backed strike action in a dispute over a real terms pay cut and poverty pay, Scotland’s leading aviation trade union, Unite, confirmed today (20 July).  By 78 per cent on an 84 per cent turnout, Unite members supported strike action with Prestwick Airport now set to face disruption in the coming weeks. The action will start on Friday 5 August and will continue over four weeks on every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The dispute centres on the refusal of Prestwick Airport’s management to pay shift allowances and meet the Real Living Wage (£9.90) rate for new starters. Unite represents more than 80 workers including airport security, firefighters, airfield operators, ground crew, ground handling, cargo, customer services, and cleaners. The workers have demanded a significant wage increase with inflation reaching a 40-year high at 11.7 per cent.  The last offer on the table for the workforce was between 4 and 6.5 percent. Unite can confirm that talks facilitated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) involving both parties will reconvene on Thursday afternoon in a last-ditch attempt to reach a deal that meets the aspirations of the workers before strike action occurs read more

Strike threat over cuts to emergency services for Edinburgh’s vulnerable (20 July) – Unite claims ‘major incidents’ arising from outsourcing. Unite the union has confirmed today (20 July) that is balloting its members over cuts to the City of Edinburgh Council’s Monitoring and Response Service Unit. Unite’s members at ATEC24’s Monitoring and Response Service provide emergency telecare for Edinburgh’s vulnerable citizens to let them live safely at home. Vulnerable clients of the service have an alarm and other devices, such as pendants that detect if they have fallen or sensors to check if they have left the house, which then call the service to alert them that the client may need attention. The ballot involving over 20 members opens on 20 July and closes on 3 August. It could lead to strike action taking place in the coming weeks read more

Cheshire fastenings factory workers ballot for strike action over ‘subsistence’ wages (20 July) – YKK profits at £399 million but tells low paid Runcorn workers to take real terms pay cut. Around 70 workers, members of Unite, are being balloted for strike action until 22 July over a 5.2 per cent pay offer that would see the lowest paid employee paid just £9.54 per hour. The real rate of inflation, RPI, is currently running at 11.8 per cent and rising read more

Bexley Countrystyle refuse workers Appeal – Countrystyle Bexley members have been out on strike since 12th July and it is likely this will continue until Countrystyle offer a pay rise that doesn’t come with a change to members’ terms and conditions. The proposal to change job and finish will mean members will have to work more and more for less and less, this is unacceptable. Henry Howe, rep: ‘It cost me £100 a week to get to work which is a huge increase, fuel bills have gone up, food costs have gone up, the cost everything has increased except for our wages. A rise in pay shouldn’t mean we lose our terms and conditions, please help members fight this battle”. Benn Smith, Rep: “I am a rep at the London borough of Bexley contacted to Countrystyle Recycling Ltd. Some if not all of you may know we have voted and won to take industrial action against Countrystyle these guys are trying to eat away at the terms and conditions of some of our longest serving staff. We went out on strike from Tuesday this week on an initial 2 week notice we have since issued a further 2 weeks. We are asking if any of you could please help out with donations for our branch so that we have the funds to keep this strike going as long as it takes for us to stop a race to the bottom of terms and conditions. If you can help out thank you. Again thank you and thanks for taking the time to read this message.”

To donate to the strike fund: branch account details are: Unite LE/649; sort code 60-83-01; account No 20441911

Public demo against bus cuts: Wednesday 27th July – starts 11am outside Green Man Putney

Sign petition: To Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director, Go North East – Save Chester-le-Street bus depot

Tipton workers in McLaren, Aston Martin and Bentley supply chain using foodbanks (15 July) – CabAuto workers building interiors for luxury cars renew strikes. More than 100 West Midlands workers, paid just £9.90 an hour, will stage two weeks of strike action in July over a three per cent pay offer. The fresh industrial action follows on from seven days of strikes in June and at the beginning of this month. This is a significant real terms pay cut when prices are soaring and RPI inflation is running at 11.7 per cent. CabAuto’s owner, the Adler Pelzer Group, made profits of £118 million (€137.6 million) in 2020. Meanwhile, some CabAuto workers are so poorly rewarded that they have been forced to use food banks read more

Eastleigh Ford and Mercedes assembly workers to strike in July and August over ‘insulting’ pay offer (14 July) – Automotive assembly contractor VFS workers wage deal amounts to a pay cut. Workers employed at the south coast firm VFS Southampton Ltd, who assemble large vehicles for Ford and Mercedes, have announced strike action in a dispute over pay. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, voted overwhelmingly for the action in March after VFS imposed a pay award of less than four per cent. At the time the real rate of inflation (RPI) was running at 7.8 per cent but has now reached 11.7 per cent. Industrial action was previously postponed to allow for negotiations. However, an ‘insulting’ revised offer put forward by the company in June was overwhelmingly rejected by the membership. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “VFS has put forward an insulting pay offer that is in fact a real terms pay cut. Unite defends our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and our VFS membership will have the union’s full support during these strikes.” The workers will stage 24 hour strikes on 27 and 29 July and 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12 August. If the dispute is not resolved more strike action will be scheduled. During the strikes, picket lines will be in place at the company’s Chickenhall Lane factory in Eastleigh, Hampshire read more

Isle of Wight ferry summer holiday pay strikes to hit Cowes Week regatta – Red Funnel workers using food banks, spending days away from home with no overnight pay or expenses. Around 120 Red Funnel staff working on the Southampton-Cowes route, the majority of whom are on the minimum wage, will take 24-hour strike actions on 27 July and 1, 3 and 5 August. The strikes will impact Cowes Week, which runs from 30 July to 6 August. Further summer holiday 24-hour strike actions will take place on 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 23, 26 and 29 August read more

Workers at Derry City & Strabane district council to launch four-week strike action after they reject latest, inadequate pay offer – Council management has been notified of a four-week strike commencing 18 July and ending 14 August. Latest pay offer provided no additional consolidated pay increase, leaving workers unprotected from surging inflation. Unite has notified bosses at Derry City & Strabane district council of a further four weeks of strike action. This industrial action follows two previous strikes by workers at local councils, the Education Authority and the Housing Executive. Workers are demanding a pay increase which will protect them from the current cost of living crisis. The dispute is in respect of pay following an inadequate national pay deal which offers workers a bare 1.75 per cent increase, an offer which was rejected by Unite members as inflation is currently surging at 11.7 per cent. The latest pay offer from management at Derry City & Strabane district council came after a second strike action by workers at the local authority. Workers suspended their action to allow space for further negotiations, however management merely offered a non-consolidated, one-off payment. While this would help meet immediate challenges, it would have left workers with no protection for inflation into the future. Unite is warning that the strike at Derry City & Strabane is likely to be followed by similar at other local authorities; indeed other trade unions are now balloting on industrial action at a number of councils read more

Workers to strike for a cost of living pay increase at Hampton Conservatories Ltd in Portrush – Three percent increase is a disgraceful 8.7 percent wage cut; initial eight-day strike action to start 16 July. Unite has confirmed that its membership at the small Portrush-based manufacturer and installer of conservatories will commence an initial eight-day strike action starting 16 July 2022 read more

Petrol stations face pump problems as Gilbarco engineers take strike action over pay – Problems at petrol pumps throughout the UK will be left unattended as service engineers employed by Gilbarco Veeder-Root Ltd take strike action tomorrow (July 7) in a dispute over pay. The service engineers who, are home based and required to travel extensively for their work, have rejected a pay increase of just four per cent. This is in effect a substantial pay cut as the real rate of inflation (RPI) currently stands at 11.7 per cent. According to its last accounts, the Jersey-registered company has a multi-million pound turnover and recorded a gross profit of £4 million. The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union will take two days of strike action beginning at 06:00 on Thursday 7 July and ending at 18:00 on Friday 8 July read more

North West facing Arriva bus strikes over ‘pitiful’ pay offer – Bus workers employed by Arriva in the North West have voted in huge numbers for strike action in a dispute over pay. Unite, the workers’ union, says that all-out continuous strike action will begin on Wednesday 20 July. Around 1,800 workers returned a 96 per cent yes vote in favour of strike action on a 72 per cent turnout. Unite says its members are striking over a pitiful pay offer from the German-owned transport giant of just three per cent with no strings attached, or six per cent which included reductions in sick pay and loss of Saturday enhanced pay. Both the offers are far below the current real inflation rate (RPI) of 11.7 per cent and so constitute a pay cut read more

Bosch Rexroth workers to strike in dispute over pay and shift changes – Unite slams global giant’s plans that leave Scottish workers £7000 a year worse off. Unite has today (Monday 4 July) confirmed that members working at Bosch Rexroth Glenrothes, will walk out over a pay proposal that will leave workers £7000 a year worse off. The German-owned global tech and engineering giant has proposed a six per cent pay deal, which Unite says is a significant pay cut given that real inflation currently stands at 11.7 per cent. The employers are also refusing to back-date the pay award to 1 January or to reverse changes to shift patterns and shift allowances, which means the combined impact of the offer is to leave workers around £7,000 per year worse off. Workers at the site have rejected the company’s proposal by 74 per cent. Unite says that the Bosch Rexroth, a subsidiary of Bosch, is in a strong financial position and has no need to attack the workers’ pay and conditions.  In its 2021 annual report, Bosch Rexroth boasted of `reaching a new high on incoming orders’ which have generated sales of £5.4 billion (6.2 billion euros), up by nearly one fifth on the year before. The union’s members, 245 workers, will take continuous strike action from Tuesday 5 July until Tuesday 12 July inclusive. Thereafter they will strike every Monday and Tuesday going forward with an ongoing ban on overtime throughout read more

Caterpillar pays for strike-breakers to stay in five star luxury – Unite blasts firm for ‘burning through’ cash on rooms that cost up to £850 a night rather than pay workers fairly. Manufacturing company Caterpillar has been paying for the strike-breakers it brought to Northern Ireland to stay in five star luxury, Unite the union says today (22 June). The strike breakers have been staying at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast but after their presence attracted protests, they were moved to the five-start Culloden Resort Hotel and Spa. Rooms at the Culloden Resort Hotel – which offers a `luxurious break…..at the most prestigious five-star hotel in Northern Ireland’ – can cost up to £850 a night, while a suite is £2,500 a night. Unite says that, along with the high-cost hotel accommodation costs, Caterpillar is paying the travel costs and hourly premiums to those they have brought in to cross picket lines read more

Strike at Moy Park Randalstown mill continues as employers refuse to pay the rate for the job – Randalstown workers paid ‘chicken feed’ wages – some less than £5,000 a year compared to workers at other Moy Park sites. As Moy Park profits touch £90 million Unite exposes how poverty pay at Randalstown leaves workers borrowing to ‘make ends meet’. A Unite survey of striking Moy Park workers has revealed that eight in 10 are suffering a declining standard of living; seven in 10 had trouble making ends meet in the last year; and six in 10 had to borrow money to get by. Drivers at the plant regularly work well in excess of 70 hours a week to make a living as the rates of pay at the site are more than £5,000 a year less than drivers receive at other Moy Park sites for the same work. The latest figures for 2021 show Moy Park has reported profits of £86 million, while its owner Pilgrim’s Pride banked among its highest ever margins at £478 million. So there’s cash a plenty to pay the same rate across the company. Unite reveals the shocking statistics as workers at Randalstown stand on pickets for a second week at the Moy Park owned chicken feed mill read more

Big name brands Diageo, Chivas, Bacardi, Carlsberg among those facing bottle shortages this summer as workers at Owens Illinois (O-I) Glass take strike action in pay dispute – Over 160 workers, members of Unite the union, are set to walk out in rejection of a pay offer of just four per cent, which the union says is a pay cut given the real inflation rate (RPI) currently stands 11.1 per cent. O-I Glass’s quarterly results released in March this year shows significant growth in both revenue and net income. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “O-I Glass is another shameful example of a business that can afford to pay a decent wage but won’t pay. The offer on the table is a pay cut, not a rise, and is entirely unacceptable. O-I Glass needs to return with an acceptable offer or face strike action by our members, who will have the full support of their union in this fight for fair pay.” Strike action will be across three sites: the Devilla Forest Quarry and the Glasshouse Loan which are both in Alloa, Scotland, and the company’s plant in Edinburgh Way, Harlow. Strikes will begin with a 24 hour strike at the Devilla Forest Quarry, on Wednesday 15 June, this will be followed by a 48 hour strike at the Glasshouse in Alloa, beginning on Thursday 16 June. The workers at the Harlow plant will then stage a 48 hour walkout beginning on Sunday 19 June. Further strike action is set to be announced in the near future. Hopes of progress in the dispute collapsed this week when the company simply restated their previous pay offer during negotiations read more

Carlisle can factory strikes to hit summer supplies of Coca Cola, Heineken, Brewdog and Magners – June pay strikes at Carlisle’s Crown Bevcan factory will hit summer supplies of cans of Coca Cola, Heineken, Brewdog, Magners and Bulmers, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Tuesday 24 May). Around 200 workers, who have already taken two days of strike action over a three per cent pay offer, will strike on 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 June. The tin can production workers are seeking a pay deal that reflects rising living costs read more

Veolia workers across Edinburgh and Lothians set to strike over `insulting’ pay offer – Unite can confirm today (24 March) that more than 50 members working for Veolia Water across Edinburgh and the Lothians are set to take strike action in a dispute over pay. The strike action, involving plant operatives, electrical maintenance, mechanical, and administrative staff, was supported overwhelmingly by 94 per cent of Unite’s members in a ballot turnout of 83 per cent. The Veolia workers are demanding a significantly improved pay offer from the company.  With the more realistic cost of living (RPI) currently running at 8.2 per cent per cent, Veolia’s offer of 2.6 per cent for this year is a pay cut. Strike action will take place from 7-13 April, and then continuous strike action from 21 April read more

 

PCS

Huge pressures on Passport Office workers highlighted by MPs (22 July) – The huge pressures facing HM Passport Office workers of continuing low pay, and the stress caused by a lack of planning and poor preparation for the current high demand in passport applications, has been highlighted by MPs read more

PCS condemns failure to take forward DEFRA Pay Business Case (21 July) – Defra has decided not to go forward with their pay business case for political reasons.  Members deserve better than another pay cut. Today REMCO (Defra’s Renumerations Committee) announced that Defra Pay area (including Defra Core, RPA, APHA, and VMD) has now reverted from doing the pay business case which has been worked on for the last year to the max 3% pay remit. This comes in a week when pay review bodies for other public sector bodies have given recommendation of 5% awards, which whilst still derogatory is more than the civil service is allowed to pay read more

Sign the petition to stop privatisation at the Plas Menai outdoor activities centre (21 July) – PCS members at the Plas Menai National Outdoor Centre for Wales, near Caernarfon, are facing the threat of their jobs being transferred to a private employer. Sport Wales, the Welsh Government sponsored body that runs Plas Menai, has invited tenders for an external organisation to take over the running of the centre, including the employment of its staff. PCS has launched a petition on the website of the Senedd – the Welsh parliament – to stop the outsourcing of this unique facility. Sign and ask your friends and colleagues to do likewise read more

Help win the HMTCS Common Platform ballot (19 July) – PCS legal adviser and court associate members are voting for industrial action over the roll-out of the deeply flawed Common Platform case management system. You can join by 29 July and have your say. The ballot opened on 14 July and closes at noon on 11 August. Members can only vote by completing and posting back a ballot paper. Ballot papers were sent by first class post to all members for whom we held a ballot address on the 14 July. It is of vital importance that all members post back their completed ballot paper. Restrictive Tory rules require PCS to receive a response from a minimum of 50% of those balloted read more

Strike dates announced for OCS members in HMCTS (15 July) – Security officers in courts will take four days’ strike action over pay in July and August. PCS members employed by OCS as security officers in courts voted to take strike action over pay. They have rejected a pay offer that would have seen them paid just 27p an hour above the national minimum wage of £9.50. PCS has served notice on OCS that members will take strike action on 29 July and 2, 3 and 4 August read more

 

GMB

Surrey boroughs next in line for bin strike (21 July) – GMB, the union for refuse collectors, have announced the first 3 weeks of strike action for members employed by Amey in Elmbridge and Surrey Heath. This area, which includes Camberley, Cobham, Esher, Frimley, Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge will see no kerbside rubbish collection for the period, which will initially run for the three weeks from 1 August to 19 August. GMB members are already looking at announcing further dates in due course, should their employer not agree to meet their union representatives for talks to look at ending the dispute, which relates to this year’s pay offer read more

Sandwell bin strike: 125,000 households impacted during Commonwealth Games opening week (14 July) – GMB members have today voted overwhelmingly to back strike action at Serco Sandwell, the provider of refuse collection services across Sandwell Borough. 95% of GMB members, working across Serco refuse services, have backed strike action after weeks of Serco top brass failing to recognise the work and contribution of local refuse workers. Five initial strike dates have been announced for 28th July, 29th July, 4th August, 5th August and 8th August read more

Weekend strike called off at South London’s St George’s Hospital (15 July) – Action scheduled for Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th July have been suspended

Sign petition – To St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Mitie out: Demand fair pay and conditions for staff at St George’s Hospital

GMB union slams Wandsworth parking contractor for shunning talks (12 July) – It’s bad enough that NSL are ignoring us, but to refuse to talk to ACAS really demonstrates how seriously they are taking this dispute, says GMB

GMB, the union for local government, have slammed the decision by NSL, Wandsworth Council’s parking contractor, to avoid talks with the union. The union understands that ACAS, the government’s conciliatory body have been attempting to contact NSL management for a week, with no reply. GMB officials are once again calling for Wandsworth Council to intervene in the dispute, which is costing the council thousands of pounds per day read more

Rhondda faces bin strike after workers vote for industrial action – Rhondda residents look set to face a bin strike after GMB members in the waste and recycling department voted for industrial action. GMB members at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council refuse and recycling dept have voted overwhelmingly to support industrial action with a majority of 95 percent. The move could see 130 people strike in May, leaving around 108,000 homes without refuse collections. The union is calling for amendments to the job evaluation scheme after the current system leaves essential workers short-changed for their work. During the pandemic, refuse workers alongside other essential service workers were put at risk, whilst council big wigs worked from home. Over the last decade local government staff have seen their wages cut by around 25 percent read more. BBC are reporting that if talks fail, there will be an initial strike on 30th July

 

Unison

Newly qualified paramedics enjoy UNISON-won pay boost (25 July) – Newly qualified paramedics won a pay increase after submitting a collective grievance. Many newly qualified paramedics in the East of England are beginning to see an increase in their pay this month after fighting together for better banding. UNISON supported staff to put a collective grievance in against the trust over the newly qualified paramedic (NQP) role. When the role was introduced in 2016, it was agreed that NQPs would be on band five for a two-year “consolidation of learning” period to display the knowledge, in order to go up to band six. NQPs complained that there were unfair and unnecessary delays to the process that were leaving them out of pocket read more

Strike dates set after exam board fails on pay (25 July) – The action is likely to escalate unless AQA management is prepared to re-open talks. Staff at exam board AQA are to stage a 72-hour walkout later this week ​that could affect the delivery of thousands of GCSE and A-level results. The employees, including those involved in organising the awarding of grades, will walk out for three days from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 July in a dispute over pay. Many of the 180 staff affected say they’re struggling to make ends meet following successive below-inflation pay awards. Last year, they received an increase of 0.6%​. This year they’ve been offered 3% – another real-terms pay cut, with inflation currently 9.4% and predicted to rise even further. The workers have been warned they could be sacked and rehired ​on inferior contracts if they don’t accept the offer read more

Government must act now to ensure pupils’ learning is not disrupted in September (22 July) – Ministers must use ​the summer break to prepare for Covid surge. Unions have jointly written to new education secretary James Cleverly ​today (Friday) calling for urgent action during the summer holidays to protect schools in England ahead of the next Covid wave. The letter has been sent by​ seven unions representing leaders and staff in schools – UNISON, ASCL, NAHT, NEU, GMB, NASUWT and Unite – and says ministers must use the time during ​the summer break to implement a range of measures to minimise disruption and cut lost learning. These include improved ventilation, air filtration, free lateral flow tests, renewed public guidance on reducing risks and a fresh push on encouraging vaccination. The unions are calling for the “preventative measures” after attendance levels hit a five-month low in the first week of July. That coincided with an upsurge ​in Covid infections. The letter has been signed by UNISON head of education Mike Short, ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman, NEU joint general secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, GMB national officer Avril Chambers, NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach and Unite regional officer Clare Keogh read more

Government plans to use agency workers to break strikes ​are dangerous and unlawful (22 July) – UNISON will challenge the government’s decision in the courts. A new law allowing employers to use agency workers to replace striking staff during industrial disputes is to be challenged in the courts, UNISON has announced today (​Friday). The UK’s largest union says it plans to take the government to court over the controversial change to the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003, which came into force yesterday (Thursday 21 July). The union has written to business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng about its intention to seek a judicial review of the new regulations, which it believes are unlawful. The secretary of state now has 14 days to respond, otherwise the union says it will take the government to the High Court to try to get the measure overturned read more

University staff reject below-inflation pay offer and vote on strike action (22 July) – No worker wants to go out on strike, but staff can’t afford to feed their kids, pay for housing or fill up their petrol tanks. Thousands of university workers including administrators, cleaners, security and catering staff will vote today (Friday) on whether to strike over pay, says UNISON. Employees overwhelmingly rejected a 3% pay offer from the University and Colleges Employers Association in May read more

Tax relief for NHS staff – don’t lose out! (21 July) – We know that the current cost of living crisis, years of below-inflation pay increases and inadequate mileage reimbursement rates mean that our members working in the NHS are under an increasing amount of financial strain. And we know that for many of our members, all of this means every penny matters when it comes to making ends meet. That’s why we want our members to benefit from our longstanding agreement with HMRC, which allows for health members working in certain professions to claim tax relief for cleaning their uniforms, and for nurses and midwives – their shoes and socks read more

UNISON-supported legal victory secures new holiday rights for all workers (20 July) – Supreme Court judgment guarantees minimum paid annual leave. All workers in the UK will now receive the same minimum level of paid annual holiday leave, regardless of how many hours they work, following a landmark legal judgment by the Supreme Court today (Wednesday). The case, Harpur Trust v Brazel & UNISON, was taken by music teacher Lesley Brazel. She argued her employer was wrong to give her fewer days of annual leave than the legal minimum because she only worked during the school term read more

Delayed, disappointing pay rise will leave staff considering their futures, say health unions (20 July) – This is nowhere ​near what’s needed to save the NHS. Health unions representing more than a million NHS staff in England have ​reacted with dismay to the NHS pay rise of £1,400 announced today (Tuesday) by the government read more

Care staff in South West begin strike over fire and rehire plans – Workers have been left with no choice but to take action. Staff employed by Bristol-based care company St Monica Trust are to begin a series of strikes today (Wednesday) over threats to sack them if they don’t accept a pay cut, says UNISON. ​As many as 100 care workers, registered nurses and residential home staff are expected to take to the streets outside the trust’s four care homes across South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset, UNISON says. Further action is planned for 2, 5, 10 and 11 July read more

Details of the pickets can be found at this link and you can pledge your support by adding your name here

There is a strike fund which is being collected for. Many of these workers are low paid and part time. With cost of living ever rising it’s essential that we can ensure no one feels like they can’t stand up with their colleagues and strike for fear of lost pay. The union will be paying strike pay and members can request hardship payments up to their full wages so no one gets left behind.

For donations please send to the following details with the reference “SMT”

Account name: UNISON South West

Account number: 49021079

Sort Code: 60-83-01

OCS LANCASHIRE: PAY UP NOW – Pay our hospital heroes what they are owed for working throughout the pandemic. We are NHS workers in Lancashire and we urgently need your support. As hospital cleaners and catering staff, we are outsourced to OCS and have worked 24/7 throughout the pandemic to keep staff and patients safe. But while OCS boasts it turned over hundreds of millions during the COVID crisis, it continues to pay us less than our NHS colleagues doing exactly the same jobs. Hospital workers employed by OCS are £2000 worse off than our colleagues working for the NHS. We also have inferior working conditions including 7 days less annual leave and lower sick pay. 45 of us submitted a collective grievance about this issue in May 2021, but EIGHT MONTHS on, we have still not been listened to. We have become increasingly frustrated and have now voted 97.8% in favour of taking strike action to resolve this issue…We think that a great way to get the Chief Executive’s attention is to flood his inbox with emails from all of us. Can you take a few minutes to email Bob Taylor? It’s easy, you just need to add your details and press send. https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/ocs-pay-up-now. Post messages of support on social media: please tag @NorthWestUNISON. Use hashtags #ONENHS and #PayUpNowOCS read more

University of Leeds members prepare to strike again – Action is over the 2021-22 pay round with member resoundingly rejecting the latest offer. The University of Leeds branch is taking further strike action over the 2021-22 pay round, next week, on 20-24 June. Members have lost 20% of their pay against inflation over 12 years. They have used the pay calculator to show just how many thousands of pounds staff are being cheated in their pay read more

 

NIPSA

NICS Pay 2022 – from Carmel Gates NIPSA General Secretary (22 July) – I thought it would be useful to provide an update on the 2022 NICS Pay Claim that was shaped both by membership consultation and ongoing discussion within the CS Group Executive. In terms of the broader context of public sector pay, you will be aware of reports earlier this week of the UK Government’s full acceptance of the recommendations from the Independent Pay Review Body that determines the pay of public sector workers within the NHS as well as for police and teachers (in England). While the recommendations (on the NHS) directly affect some workers in Northern Ireland, this body is not part of the framework that determines NI Civil Service Pay. The framework of pay policy in this regard operates within the devolved Department of Finance (DoF) read more

 

NEU

Education unions condemn botched teacher pay award (22 July) – Joint unions express grave concerns over damage to education system of 2022/23 teacher pay award. Joint media release from ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU and Community. Five education unions – representing the vast majority of teachers and school leaders in England – have expressed grave concerns over the potential damage to the country’s education system of the government’s botched teacher pay award for 2022/23 read more

 

NASUWT

Pay offer will make Welsh teachers worse off (21 July) – Speaking following the publication of the report by the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body (IWPRB) Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union said: “The Welsh Government has waited until schools close for the summer to deliver another real-terms pay cut for teachers. Against a backdrop of soaring inflation and a real-terms pay loss of more than 20% over the last 12 years, teachers across Wales are set to be worse off as a result of the proposals the Minister has announced today read more

 

UCU

University of Roehampton pushing ahead with mass fire & rehire in arts and the humanities (25 July) – The University of Roehampton has confirmed it will fire and rehire over 100 staff next month as part of its plan to shut down a number of courses, the majority of which are in the arts and humanities, the University and College Union (UCU) said today. Management told UCU the university is going ahead with plans to fire and rehire half its academic workforce, at a meeting on Wednesday (20 July). In May the university had said there could be up to 226 jobs lost but only envisaged around 65 (64-66) staff would be made permanently redundant. It opened up a voluntary redundancy scheme with an enhanced redundancy pay offer, receiving well over the 65 applications needed to meet management’s arbitrary financial targets. Yet the university is still intent on firing a total of 226 staff and forcing those who want to stay to reapply for fewer jobs read more

College staff in England to join wave of strike action (18 July) – Staff at 29 colleges in England will join the wave of industrial action sweeping the country after huge numbers voted in favour of strike action. The ballot result comes after the employers refused to improve a pay offer of just 2.5% in negotiations. The result, in which 89.9% of UCU members voted YES to strike action on an overall turnout of 57.9%, is the biggest mandate for industrial action across English further education colleges since the 50% turnout threshold was brought into force in 2016. The 29 colleges will also be joined by four others in the North West and six across London that were balloted separately, bringing the total number of colleges set to be hit by action to 39. The six colleges in London were balloted over local pay and conditions claims (Barnet & Southgate College 2020/21 & 2021/22, New City College Group 2021/22 & 2022/23). An overwhelming 98.4% of those who voted said yes to strike action at Barnet & Southgate College with a turnout of 77.4%. An overwhelming 88.6% of those who voted said yes to strike action at Hackney, Havering, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Epping Forest colleges and the turnout was 65.8%. The union is demanding the colleges increase pay to meet the cost of living crisis. Employer body the Association of Colleges (AoC) has recommended a pay rise by just 2.5% despite inflation hitting 11.7%. Staff pay has now fallen 35% behind inflation since 2009 after a series of below inflation pay offers. In pay scales drawn up by the AoC, unqualified teachers can earn as little as £21,000 with qualified teachers starting on less than £26,000. Meanwhile, some college bosses earn over £200,000 read more

Strike action announced at colleges across north west England (14 July) – Four colleges across the north west of England will be hit with more strike action later this year unless employers agree to raise staff pay, the UCU announced today. Staff at Burnley College, The Manchester College, City of Liverpool College, and Oldham College will walk out for two days during college induction weeks on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 September. UCU says college leaders must act now if they want to avoid a repeat of the disruption of strike action in May and June, which impacted thousands students read more

Richmond upon Thames College to face 14 days more strike action over fire & rehire plans – Staff at Richmond upon Thames College are set to down tools for 14 consecutive days over a three-week period in August and September over plans by management to sack every teacher at the college and force them to reapply for their jobs on worse terms and conditions if they want to stay. The announcement comes as staff take a further day of strike action today (Tuesday) aimed at disrupting an open day taking place at the college. Striking staff will be picketing and holding a rally at the Marsh Farm Lane entrance to the college at 4pm today as prospective students and their parents visit the college. The protests will include a mobile billboard outlining the college’s plans to sack over 100 members of teaching staff. Strike action in the summer will hit enrolment, induction and first week of teaching and take place on the following days: Monday 22 August, Tuesday 23 August, Wednesday 24 August, Thursday 25 August, Friday 26 August, Tuesday 30 August, Wednesday 31 August, Thursday 1 September, Friday 2 September, Monday 5 September, Tuesday 6 September, Wednesday 7 September, Thursday 8 September, Friday 9 September. Staff will be picketing the college on every morning of the strike action. The college wants to sack all 127 members of its teaching staff and make them reapply for their jobs on new contracts that would see them lose 10 days’ holiday. Management began the deeply controversial process, widely known as ‘fire and rehire’, without any prior engagement or consultation with staff. The college claims that ‘trust’, ‘integrity’ and ‘excellence’ are the values that ‘underpin everything’ it does read more

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

 

FBU

Pay consultation 2022: Unanimous rejection of 2% offer (July 18) – The Executive Council has met today to consider the results of discussions with FBU members on the employers’ proposal for a 2% increase in pay. The result of this is that the Executive Council has voted unanimously to reject the 2% pay offer. The employers will now be informed of this. Furthermore, the Executive Council has agreed that plans should be urgently prepared to develop our campaign for decent pay, including the need to prepare for strike action. All FBU members are asked to fully participate in such discussions; all voices need to be heard. Firefighters have never taken industrial action lightly but nor can we allow this pay insult to pass without challenge. The employers’ proposal would mean a further cut to our real wages and further hardship for our members and their families. That is unacceptable in the face of the cost of living crisis read more

 

POA

Permanent injunction and what it means (22 July) – It is vitally important that all POA members fully understand the contents of the Permanent Injunction against the POA which was circulated previously. Please read this Circular in conjunction with POA Circular 98/2017 which is attached read more

Pay cut totally unacceptable for prison officer grades (20 July) – Prison Officers who protected the general public during the pandemic and put their own lives at risk on average are getting a 4 per cent pay rise which is not even half of the rate of inflation read more

Scotland: re Agenda for Change 2022/2023 single year pay offer (14 July) – We are about to open the ballot for the NHS AFC pay offer for 2022/2023. The pay offer has been circulated previously and I am sure you are all aware of the detail and content of the offer by now. However, it is attached to this circular for ease of reference. We are not making a formal recommendation to you on the offer, you will make that decision for yourself based on having all the information to allow you to reach an informed position personal to you. What we can say is that as a trade union we are deeply disappointed with the offer and do not feel it in any way adequately reflects either the current cost of living crisis we are all experiencing at present; or the enormous dedicated, professional contribution you have all made in yet another year of unprecedented challenges in the State hospital during the COVID crisis. These views and levels of disappointment are echoed across the NHS trade unions and have been communicated very clearly to those responsible for tabling the current offer. The ballot itself will be a workplace ballot and will be open from Monday 18th July until Wednesday 3rd August 2022. You will be able to pick up your ballot slip from your local branch committee. Please speak with them for information about the location of the ballot box to allow you to cast read more

 

BFAWU

Hot Weather Support (18 July) – Sarah Woolley: Although there is no legal maximum upper working temperature, there is protective legislation that can be applied in such situations. Temperatures in the indoor workplace are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a ‘reasonable’ temperature in the workplace. In addition to the Workplace Regulations, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to make a suitable assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees, and take action where necessary and where reasonably practicable. Excessive heat would be classed as a risk to health and safety and as such action needs to be taken. Under regulation 6 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations, employers must ‘ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air’. Under the Employment rights act Section 44 of the Act states that a worker has the right not to be subjected to any detriment where they leave work, or refuse to return to work, in circumstances where the worker reasonably believes there to be ‘serious and imminent’ danger, which they could not reasonably avoid. These protections are all year round, not just during a heatwave read more

 

NUJ

NUJ condemns Newsquest closure of print titles (21 July) – Publisher moves titles to digital, weeks after informing Culture Secretary her intervention in the merger may cause “harm to the Archant staffing, titles and journalism.” The National Union of Journalists has condemned the decision by publisher Newsquest, to cease printing of at least five newspapers, moving them to digital only read more

BBC North West journalists vote for work to rule – NUJ members are making a stand about the damaging impact of job cuts on news outpt in the region. As well as working with a significantly reduced workforce, staff at BBC North West are now expected to take on more and more technical duties previously carried out by skilled technical staff. If allowed to continue, the quality of the regional news programmes will suffer and deteriorate, they say. More than 97 per cent of NUJ members in the chapel voted in favour of industrial action. It follows the BBC’s decision to cut £25m from BBC England’s budget, leading to 450 job cuts cross England. The vast majority of journalists who work for BBC North West are NUJ members read more

 

Prospect

Multi-year deal delivers 11.8% pay increase for members at Electricity North West (21 July) – Following a multi-year deal agreed in 2020, Prospect members working at Electricity North West are set to receive a substantial pay rise as part of the agreement between the company and unions read more

 

Equity

Universal Credit campaigning update – July 2022 (21 July) – Equity continues to lobby the government to abolish, or modify, the Universal Credit (UC) Minimum Income Floor (MIF) given the negative effect it has on self-employed performers and creative workers with fluctuating earnings. A recent priority for our campaigning work was highlighting to policymakers how the MIF is preventing some of our members from accessing the recently announced Cost of Living payments. Another focus was calling on the Department of Work and Pensions to monitor the impact of the MIF on those working in the performing arts and entertainment sector read more

 

USDAW

Usdaw and Tesco sign a new and updated recognition and collective bargaining agreement (21 July) – Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis and Tesco Chief People Officer Emma Taylor have this week signed a renewed and improved partnership agreement, which is the largest private sector collective bargaining agreement in the UK and one of the largest in Europe read more

RPI inflation hits 11.8% – Usdaw demands immediate action from Government (20 July) – Retail trade union Usdaw is again calling on the Government to take immediate action to tackle the cost of living crisis, as inflation continues to grow and wages are devalued by rising prices. The Retail Prices Index rate of inflation increased to 11.8% today and the Consumer Prices Index reached 9.4%. Usdaw argues that RPI is a more accurate measure of inflation, particularly as it includes housing costs. Results from Usdaw’s cost of living survey show that low-paid workers, many of them delivering essential services, are struggling to make ends meet read more

#ReinstateMax: defend sacked Tesco USDAW rep Max McGee – months on from exhausting all appeals, Max McGee is preparing to take Tesco to an Employment Tribunal over his trade union victimisation and sacking. A GoFundMe page has been set up to donate to Max’s reinstatement campaign and trade union comrades are encouraged to raise the campaign at their Trade Union branches and Trades Councils over the coming weeks. Link to the page below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist

Messages of solidarity and photos can be sent to [email protected]

 

UVW

Latin American cleaners demand union RECOGNITION (22 July) – Bolivian migrant cleaners at the Latchmere Leisure Centre in Battersea, south west London have applied to the Central Arbitration Committee for statutory recognition of UVW as their union. The cleaners, who are currently being paid only pennies more than the minimum wage, are demanding a pay rise to the London Living Wage (LLW). They are also only currently entitled to statutory sick pay, the legal minimum, and are demanding a full sick pay scheme. RPI inflation was 11.8% in June and is forecast to go even higher in the autumn. With the price of everything rising, it is becoming harder for our members to make ends meet. Especially for those already on poverty wages before the cost of living crisis hit read more

Fighting back through the courts against sacking at St James Tavern in Brighton (8 July) – This week UVW strike leader and now former pub manager at St James Tavern in Brighton, Jake Marvin, applied to the employment tribunal for interim relief following his summary sacking just days after the workers’ first picket line on Saturday, 25th June. Interim relief is when a boss is ordered to reinstate a worker where the employment tribunal believes they have been sacked for trade union activities. Applications for interim relief are incredibly rare and even rarer to win. But the evidence that Jake was sacked for building the union in his workplace is undeniable and includes a leaked Whatsapp message from the pub landlady, Victoria, that his sacking was planned weeks in advance. And an open admission from the violent pub landlord Zakaria to the local member of parliament for Brighton, Kemptown, Lloyd Russell-Moyers, that he would sack any workers who took part in union activities read more

 

IWGB

Statement by Cleaners, Porters, Post-Room and Security staff at LSHTM following the senior management’s false and misleading statement on 21 July 2022 – We are appalled by the statement published yesterday (21/07/2022) by LSHTM senior management – a tissue of lies which has clearly been drafted in an attempt to smear us and our union, the IWGB, and to try to delegitimise our campaign against discrimination, low pay and victimisation at this university. Disappointingly, this is not the first time LSHTM has published false statements about us, so we decided that we should also publicly reply. We are a majority-migrant workforce who worked all through the pandemic but we are paid well below other staff at the University. Our union, the IWGB, represents the majority of our workforce, yet LSHTM refuses to recognise our union and refuses to negotiate with us over pay. We have suffered trade union victimisation that we believe to be unlawful, and to date, six of us have received disciplinary sanctions as a result of our attempt to raise our voices and concerns publicly. We have no guarantee that these sanctions will be lifted once we are insourced read more

Over 120 academics pen open letter to LSHTM demanding an end to ‘second class’ treatment of outsourced workers (12 July) – 126 academics, including London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) staff, alumni and members of the wider academic community, have published an open letter to Senior Management at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, raising concerns over “second class” treatment of outsourced workers, which “tarnishes the reputation of the School” read more

Outsourced Workers at LSHTM Set to Strike over Pay Following Escalating Union Victimisation – Outsourced cleaners, porters, post room, and security staff working at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) have voted unanimously in favour of strike action over poverty pay amidst the cost of living crisis. In April, workers from the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) launched a campaign to bring an end to a discriminatory pay gap that would pay the majority-migrant and BAME workers below the lowest grade of the university-wide pay scale. This follows only months after a damning report revealing ingrained structural racism across the prestigious university, at academic staff and student level read more

The outsourced workers will strike 18 to 20 July during LSHTM graduation celebrations over poverty pay! Support striking workers and their fight back against the #CostOfLivingCrisis by donating to the strike fund

 

Barristers take action over pay and conditions

South Eastern Circuit – Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey)

Midland Circuit – Birmingham Crown Court

Northern Circuit – Manchester Crown Court

North Eastern Circuit – Leeds Crown Court

Western Circuit – Bristol Crown Court

Wales & Chester Circuit – Cardiff Crown Court

Week 1: Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th June 2022

Week 2: Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th July 2022

Week 3: Monday 11th, Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th July 2022

Week 4: Monday 18th, Tuesday 19th, Wednesday 20th, Thursday 21st and Friday July 22nd 2022.

In w/c 25th July: the days of action are suspended for 1 week.

In w/c 1st August: the days of action recommence for a further full week.

 

SIPTU (Ireland)

SIPTU public service members to prepare for industrial action over Government failure to review Agreement (25 July) – SIPTU members across the public service will commence a consultation exercise in advance of ballots for industrial action over the failure of the Government to conclude an acceptable review of the pay provisions of the ‘Building Momentum’ Public Service Agreement. The consultation will involve union members and activists in the health service, local government, education and the State sectors in the coming weeks read more

 

Other news

Peterloo March for Democracy – Sunday 14th August assemble 12.30pm Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester for march to St Peters Square Facebook event

Peterloo Annual Commemoration – Tuesday 16th August – Gather at the memorial in Windmill Street, Manchester at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start Peterloo Memorial Campaign Facebook page

  

International news

(From NUJ website) Maldives: legislation threatens right to protect sources (22 July) – A decision by the Maldives parliament to ratify the country’s Evidence Act with vague exceptions, could mean journalists are ordered to reveal their sources read more on NUJ website

 

Fight blacklisting and victimisation of union reps

Support GARY CARNEY, TRAIN OPERATOR – LONDON UNDERGROUND

Defend Adrian Mitchell RMT driver on London Underground

Support Tim Breed RMT

Donate to solidarity campaign of Moe Muhsin Manir Unite bus rep   Email messages of support to Moe: [email protected]

Trade union rep victimisation at Woolwich Ferry reaches ‘obscene levels’, says Unite

Unite: Ealing’s Labour council ‘actively helping’ Serco ‘hound’ union rep from civil enforcement job

St Mungos management escalate dispute by suspending Unite repsign petition: End the culture of fear at St Mungo’smodel motion

St Mungo’s: Unite will not tolerate victimisation and bullying

Sign petition: Reinstate Gary Bolister sacked GMB rep at Islington Council

Watch Reel News video: Victimised union reps: Act like it’s you and fight back

Reinstate John Boken Shropshire NEU rep – For more details and send solidarity messages, email [email protected]

Sign petition to support Redbridge NEU Rep Keiran Mahon

Watch Reel News video: Huddersfield teachers strike to defend Louise Lewis

Victimised Tesco warehouse rep Max McGee fighting for reinstatement read more. There is now a GoFundMe to support the campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/reinstate-max-usdaw-rep-socialist) and Max can be invited to speak at Usdaw and other union branches plus trades councils ([email protected])

QC appointed to lead the independent Unite inquiry into blacklisting (25 Mar) – Unite is delighted to announce that Nick Randall QC and John Carl Townsend have been appointed to investigate the possible collusion by union officers in blacklisting. Over the past months, evidence gathering by Thompsons solicitors has continued, with many blacklisted construction workers and other witnesses having already been interviewed. The work of the independent investigators is expected to start officially on 11 April read more

#SPYCops Inquiry exposes state surveillance of workers movement

Keep up with developments and read and watch campaigners’ statements on the Campaign Opposing Police Surveillance (COPS) and Undercover Policing Inquiry websites and spycops info Facebook group

Builders Crack: The Movie

In the current situation, this long lost film from the 1990s about rank and file union organising in the construction industry is intended to lift the spirits, but also to spark a debate in our movement. Hope the youngsters in this film put a smile on your face.

Watch – Share – Discuss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZ-QMA1FMg

Blacklist Support Group

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

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

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

Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

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

 

The NSSN is continuing to report on how workers are organising during the coronavirus pandemic

The NSSN is opening up our weekly email bulletin, website and social media platforms of Facebook and twitter to provide a public forum for workers during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. We want to be a place where we can all share queries and experiences that workers are facing in their workplaces. These include reports of action taken by workers to defend themselves from their employers.

You can read about many of these actions in our weekly bulletin and out social media groups, especially our Facebook group: NSSN – defend workers’ rights under Coronavirus.

You can also send the NSSN your reports and queries via our website, twitter – @NSSN_AntiCuts and email – [email protected]

We welcome the information being sent to union members concerning the spread of coronavirus, including the Accord, Advance, AEP, AFA-CWA, ASLEF, BDA, BECTU Sector of Prospect, BFAWU, BOS-TU, College of Podiatry, Community, CSP, EIS, Equity, FBU, FDA, GMB, HCSA, MU, NAHT, NASUWT, National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD), Nautilus International, NEU, NGSU, NUJ, PFA, Prospect, RCM, SoR, TSSA, TUC, UCU, UNISON, Unite, URTU, USDAW, WGGB and the RCN

But it is absolutely vital that unions retain their ability to organise and act independently in defence of their members and workers generally. This includes the right of unions to take industrial action. We are already aware of workers being forced to take unofficial action on health and safety grounds. We also believe that unions should have oversight of any government bans on protests and picketing. This is the same Tory government that tabled more new anti-union laws in the Queens Speech in December 2019 and cannot be trusted and is now attacking the right to protest through its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

We believe that it is essential that workers are protected during this worrying period and are not impacted, whether in terms of their safety as well as their pay and employment rights. The Tory government have announced measures that include some workers receiving 80% of their wages. This furlough scheme was due to finish but has now been extended because of the 2nd lockdown. But it’s clear that the Tories are looking to end it asap.

However, we believe that no worker should pay the price for any spread of the virus. We say: work or full pay. Any worker who is required not to attend work or is unable to do so because of COVID, childcare or transport closures should receive full pay and not be forced to take annual leave. But unions have to remain vigilant that any government payments actually happen and also covers all workers, including those in precarious employment such as zero-hour contracts and in the gig economy.

We have drafted this model motion which we’ve made into a bulletin that can be downloaded and printed off to be distributed. Feel free to use in your union and trades council, in totality or partially to highlight the issues that need to be addressed.

Keep an eye out for other Facebook and social media groups and pages that are being created. The Coronavirus Support Group for Workers has been set up on Facebook and is a useful forum and you can catch up on disputes at Strike Map UK

 

Diary

August

14 Peterloo March for Democracy – assemble 12.30pm Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester for march to St Peters Square Facebook event

16 Peterloo Annual Commemoration – Gather at the memorial in Windmill Street, Manchester at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start Peterloo Memorial Campaign Facebook page

 

September

4 Burston Strike School Rally Facebook group

11 NSSN TUC Rally 1pm 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

 

 


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