NSSN Bulletin No. 88

NSSN Bulleting No. 88

30 April Updates on London Underground strike of RMT Tubelines workers, Unite library workers in Greenwich and tanker drivers. International reports from Argentina and Sri Lanka. May Day demonstrations and news of upcoming strikes, actions and demonstration.

Tubelines Strike

Paul O'Brien, RMT Tubelines council rep at the protest outside the company's office in Canary Wharf as the 72-hour strike started on Tuesday:- "We've been given 3 options that will happen to us by October 1st. One is that we are taken in-house within LUL (London Underground) - excellent. The second one is that we remain as we are - not so good. Because it would be a further watering down of the rights that we were TUPE'd over with. And the third one is that we get re-privatised. And that's our biggest fear because this would not be like the PPP privatisation because we had the whole of the Underground and the majority of public support was behind us. This would mean that we could be privatised like any other firm would be and under TUPE rights, pensions would not be covered by that. So even the 40% of us who currently are in the TFL pension would probably have that dropped as well. So we are fighting for everyone's rights here today not just those who have (travel) passes and pensions but the majority who don't."

"A fight for equality that all Londoners have a stake in supporting" Alex Gordon, RMT President

"This dispute is so important because of the threat of privatisation." Steve Headley, RMT London regional organiser

http://www.shopstewards.net/news.280.htm

1.UPDATES:

UCU have just announced they will also be striking on the 10th of May.

Belfast bus workers unofficial action forces management climb-down http://www.shopstewards.net/news.279.htm

RMT announces Royal Fleet Auxiliary pensions strike on 10th May.

http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=158900

Remploy workers take the fight to Parliament & continue campaign to win http://www.shopstewards.net/news.278.htm

ASLEF will be striking 1, 3, 8, 10, 15 May on East Midlands Trains

RMT – TUBE UNION confirmed that it is to begin balloting tube cleaners working for ISS and Initial for both strike action and action short of a strike in disputes over pay, pensions and benefits http://tinyurl.com/86f95n4

NUT & Pension Strikes -

http://electmartin1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/pensions-nut-executive-discusses.html

Greenwich library staff strike against privatisation - Unite in Greenwich libraries are on strike from Friday 27th April to Tuesday 1st May. A further day is planned for 11th May.

Send messages of support to [email protected] http://www.shopstewards.net/news.281.htm The strike is against the planned sell-off of the library service to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

Unite Tanker drivers – union consults members over offer http://tinyurl.com/82t7t8j

Unite gives Ford notice of intention to hold strike ballot to defend new starter pay rates & pensions http://tinyurl.com/83ltypf

2.VICTIMISATION

Blacklist support group calls for union conference emergency motions to expose police collusion and call for a public enquiry. Full motion: [email protected]

Shrewsbury - The 1972 Building Workers Strike http://www.shopstewards.net/news.275.htm

3.INTERNATIONAL

MMP - Unite has asked labourstart to help mobilise the international trade union movement to put pressure on the company to re-open negotiations with the union and to treat their workers with respect. It's not just about defending these workers. It's about putting pressure on employers in England and elsewhere to stop using the tactic of the lock-out.

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1369

Argentina - Kirchner nationalises YPF petrol.

http://www.socialistworld.net/doc/5716

Tamil Solidarity – Report from last weeks meeting.

http://www.tamilsolidarity.org/?p=2201

4.DIARY

Saturday 28th April: Lincoln & District TUC Save our NHS march marking Workers Memorial Day.

12 noon at Castle Square, and there will be a rally at 1pm at Speakers' Corner by the Cornhill. [email protected] Andrew Langsley will be visiting Boston hospital assemble Castle sq at 12.

11 a.m. Assemble Church Green, Witney, Oxon, in David Cameron’s constituency

12 noon MARCH stopping at Marriott’s Close to remember Altin Balla,building worker, who died on this construction site in 2008. RALLY at Church Green.

Speakers from trade unions, and from sectors affected by cuts, privatization.

Coaches from Oxford rail station and St Giles 10 a.m. 07867 935 694 Organised by Oxford and District Trades Union Council, Oxon County Association of TCs

Sheffield: Defend Health & Safety international day of action 12.30 Town Hall http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-20865-f0.cfm

London - 10.30am Assemble at the statute of the Building Worker on Tower Hill next to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

Sunday 29th April – ‘Don’t Mention the 47’ – screening & discussion on the struggle of the Liverpool City Council 1983-87 - 4pm Roxy Bar & Screen, Borough Rd, London http://www.roxybarandscreen.com/listings.php?event=1977

01 MAY

International Workers Day

May Day is the day to bring together all the different struggles - resisting divide and rule tactics. The following is a list commemorations, marches and rallies that we know are taking place from this Saturday April 28th:

Cardiff 5th May 12.00 Callaghan Square

Derby 28th April 1.30 Market Place

Dundee 5th May1 2.00 Hilltown Park

Edinburgh 5th May 11.00 Johnston Terrace

Glasgow 5th May 11.00 George Square

Ipswich 1st May 12.00 Alexandra Circus

Irvine5 th May10.30 Woodlands Centre

London 1st May 12.00 Clerkenwell Green

Manchester 7th May 11.00 Bexley Square, Salford

Newcastle 5th May 11.00 Times Square

Nottingham 5th May 10.00 Forest Recreation Ground

Plymouth 1st May Guildhall Swansea 28th April 12.00 Guildhall

Bedford 7 May 2pm Tavistock Community Centre. For more info contact [email protected]

Chelmsford Tuesday 1 May 7.45 Friends Meeting House www.chelmsford-tuc.org.uk [email protected]

Hastings Saturday 5 May assemble 11.30am at Hastings Pier for march to town centre and rally. [email protected] 01424 225 425

01 May

London Sparks protest against agency work – 6.45am Shard in London Bridge

05 May

Ilford "Defending the Welfare State won in Struggle by Previous Generations" 4pm Town Hall Steps, High Road. Contact Bob Archer NUT 07956 656 086 or Cllr Andy Walker 07956 263 088

06 May

Social and collection for the Remploy workers facing closure of their workplaces. Ye Olde Rose & Crown Pub, 53 Hoe Street, E17 4SA, 2pm till late.

23 May

Cut Rents not Benefits - No evictions due to benefit cuts from 9.15am outside Commonwealth Club London 25 Northumberland Avenue London WC2N 5AP.

Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud is driving through vicious Housing Benefit cuts, bringing poverty, insecurity and the threat of eviction to the low paid and poorest, families, the sick and disabled Housing Emergency

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NSSN 6th Annual National Conference:

Saturday 9th June, London Confirmed speakers - Bob Crow RMT General Secretary, Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary, Kevin Courtney NUT Deputy General Secretary, Rank & File Unite construction electrician.

New flyer/ Booking Form: http://tinyurl.com/7p6old2

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16th June NUT Local Associations for National Action on Pensions - http://classroomteachers.blogspot.co.uk/

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