Strike!

[hitmouse]

RMT fundraisers in New Cross on Thursday:

Justice For Cleaners! Solidarity Gig at the Amersham Arms

JUSTICE FOR CLEANERS! Solidarity Gig for RMT strike funds w/ Mick Lynch and music Amersham Arms, New Cross THURSDAY, 22 JUNE

www.eventbrite.co.uk

And Stockport on Friday:

 

[Dystopiary]

Journalists at Vice UK will be going on strike 29th & 30th of June.

[NUJ m]embers are taking industrial action in protest at the company's offer to those staff made redundant as a result of financial difficulties at VICE. The offer of £2000 and statutory redundancy pay comes at a time when VICE has paid executives, including former chief executive officer Nancy Dubuc, up to $1.5 million a year in salary.

Been reading some shitty things about Vice UK's treatment of their journos.

 

[hitmouse]

It's not the smallest picket I've ever seen:

 

[PR1Berske]

22 June 2023

RMT Press Office:

20,000 railway workers will walk out in July as part of the national rail dispute after train operators failed to make a new pay offer.

RMT members working across 14 train operating companies will take strike action on 20, 22 and 29 July.

 

[hitmouse]

Doctors are out again in mid-July:

BMA announces longest strike by junior doctors in NHS history - BMA media centre - BMA

Press release from the BMA

www.bma.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Firefighters were out supporting striking Unison members this morning:


PCS came down as well, but they didn't have a fire engine:

 

[BoatieBird]

Lighthouse workers in Scotland

Lighthouse workers in Scotland take 'historic and first in a generation' strike action over pay

The workers - including able seamen, base assistants, cooks and technicians - will walk out at 12pm on Monday for 24 hours.

news.sky.com

Unite say "We will continue to push the boat out in defence of our members, and they will have our full support in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

 

[hitmouse]

Lighthouse workers in Scotland

Lighthouse workers in Scotland take 'historic and first in a generation' strike action over pay

The workers - including able seamen, base assistants, cooks and technicians - will walk out at 12pm on Monday for 24 hours.

news.sky.com

Unite say "We will continue to push the boat out in defence of our members, and they will have our full support in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions."

Sounds like there could be choppy waters ahead in this dispute.

 

[PR1Berske]

Senior doctors in England have voted to strike in overwhelming numbers for the first time in the row over pay.

More than 24,000 consultants in England voted in the British Medical Association’s ballot (a turnout of 71%), with 20,741 (86%) voting for industrial action. The ballot closed earlier on Tuesday.

It means that hospital consultants are set to go on strike for two days from 20 July.


The BMA’s consultants committee urged members to vote in favour of strike action after talks with ministers about restituting pay levels, which have declined in real terms by 35% since 2008-09, broke down.

There are more than 58,000 consultants in the NHS, according to the latest figures.

Their decision follows an unprecedented move by thousands of junior doctor to go on strike across England for five days in the longest such industrial action in the history of the NHS. They will strike from 7am on 13 July until 7am on 18 July, resulting in thousands of cancelled operations and appointments.

 

[PR1Berske]

Strike action by nurses at the Royal College of Nursing will not continue after the union's ballot of its members in England failed to achieve a mandate.

While most of those members who cast a ballot voted to continue industrial action, the proportion taking part in the vote was too low for it to count.

Just over 43% took part - below the 50% threshold required by trade union laws.

The RCN balloted its members after the previous six-month mandate for strike action had expired.

Its members were among a minority of health staff who rejected the government's pay deal of a 5% rise this year and a lump sum of at least £1,655.

Members of Unison - the biggest NHS union - and those belonging to the bodies representing physios and midwives also backed the deal, which has now started to be paid.

It means only Unite in England has a mandate for strike action - and that is only for local strikes among some ambulance staff and support workers.

The Society of Radiographers is still balloting its members.



This pay deal and dispute is separate to the one involving members of the British Medical Association as doctors are on a different contract.

Junior doctors are due to take part in five-day strike next month, while the results of the strike ballot of consultants closed on Tuesday. An announcement on that is due soon.

 

[hitmouse]

Strikes set to go ahead at First Manchester:

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/june/first-manchester-strikes-to-go-ahead-monday-after-strings-attached-offer-rejected/

But not at Manchester airport, where they've got a pay deal that sounds pretty decent:

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/june/manchester-airport-workers-seal-a-whopping-17-pay-deal-negotiated-by-unite/

Also, trainspotters quiz in Wigan on Monday night to raise money for the RMT - dunno if we have any Wigan-based trainspotters here, but worth putting it out there:

 

[hitmouse]

Joint rally in Manchester on Friday to bring together striking teachers, First bus drivers in Unite and HE staff in Unison:

 

[hitmouse]

Also, I've heard a rumour about UCEA reopening talks nationally - anyone know what's going on with that? Now that twitter's knackered no-one can find out what UCU are up to.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Dunno if this helps...

 

[Miss-Shelf]

Also, I've heard a rumour about UCEA reopening talks nationally - anyone know what's going on with that? Now that twitter's knackered no-one can find out what UCU are up to.

laughing because it is so hard to find out what my union is up to these days (not really feeling festive about that though)

 

[hitmouse]

Dunno if this helps...

View attachment 381995

Cheers, presumably that'll be with JNCC rather than just UCU like?

 

[Lord Camomile]

Haven't read through 'em yet, but all the letters from UCEA to TUs to UCU to UCEA, etc are on the sites of UCEA (for those who simply want the PDFs, as they're listed nice and clearly), UCU (for those who want a bit more 'commentary') and UNISON (for those who aren't interested in the most recent letter, 'cause it's not on there yet ).

 

[Lord Camomile]

Another letter I haven't properly read through (look, my ADHD meds have well and truly worn off, a'ight?! ), but this from Leeds UCU/medievalists of the world feels like the sort of thing I'd love more of us to be doing.

Public and (presumably) influential/prestigious figures, from outside the unions, going after other pressure points of the unis.

Open letter from medievalists to the VC of University of Leeds

 

[hitmouse]

Results from the Unison local government ballot should be out now. Can't find anything to back this up online, but seen something saying that they've got a mandate in 713 employers, which sounds good but it was a ballot of 4,342 employers. 10,013 members now have a mandate for action, which again sounds impressive but that's only 2.9% of those who were balloted. Lambeth and Knowsley apparently the only local authorities who got a mandate, Barnet very close. Again, can't find a proper source to corroborate this so it could all be bollocks but it's convincing-sounding bollocks if so.
Also, found this, a pretty detailed overview of the current strikewave from a HR perspective:

Who is on strike and when?

Who is on strike and when? Personnel Today reveals the latest developments concerning industrial action in different sectors.

www.personneltoday.com

 

[Lord Camomile]

Results from the Unison local government ballot should be out now. Can't find anything to back this up online, but seen something saying that they've got a mandate in 713 employers, which sounds good but it was a ballot of 4,342 employers. 10,013 members now have a mandate for action, which again sounds impressive but that's only 2.9% of those who were balloted. Lambeth and Knowsley apparently the only local authorities who got a mandate, Barnet very close. Again, can't find a proper source to corroborate this so it could all be bollocks but it's convincing-sounding bollocks if so.
Also, found this, a pretty detailed overview of the current strikewave from a HR perspective:

Who is on strike and when?

Who is on strike and when? Personnel Today reveals the latest developments concerning industrial action in different sectors.

www.personneltoday.com

The fact that those figures are convincing without verification says everything about the state of UNISON at the moment.

 

[hitmouse]

Here's a writeup about Lambeth anyway:

Lambeth UNISON votes overwhelmingly yes for strike action over pay

Faced with a spiralling cost of living crisis and another below inflation pay offer, UNISON members were balloted by their national union for strike action. Lambeth UNISON members voted overwhelmin…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

Does mention that Lambeth got the best turnout in the country.

 

[hitmouse]

Not actually directly strike-related, but might as well dump these here as the busiest union-related thread:
Organise Now have a new guide to... getting organised now, can download as a delicious PDF here:

Resources

Resources Step 1: Talk to others you work with Step 2: Get together with others you work with Step 3: Raise your demands with the boss Step 4: The boss's reaction Step 5: Next steps Ready to get started?

www.organisenow.org.uk

or order paper copies here:

Airtable | Everyone's app platform

Airtable is a low-code platform for building collaborative apps. Customize your workflow, collaborate, and achieve ambitious outcomes. Get started for free.

airtable.com

Also, CAIWU holding a demo at Royal College of Music in solidarity with an unfairly sacked cleaner and to demand better treatment in general, Saturday 29th:

 

[hitmouse]

Also, received this from UVW about a strike of cleaners and concierges:

UVW's valiant members at luxury apartment block West End Quays start their second round of strikes today, for 5 days. They fighting for more pay, more sick pay, more annual leave and a Christmas bonus.

They are asking you to support them on their picket line outside the Hilton hotel as the management company holds its AGM.

Monday 24 July - 5pm
Outside the Hilton London Metropole hotel - 225 Edgware Rd, London W2 1JU

The Right to Manage (RTM), the company set up by the residents to manage WEQ and the facilities contracts, will hold their AGM there.

Residents have expressed support and now we need them to take action - with your help we can convince them.

We need the RTM to authorise Lee Baron, the property management company, to get round the negotiation table and accept the several offers that have been made.

 

[teqniq]

Amazing speech:

 

[teqniq]

Radiographers on strike now:

No Raise, No Rays: Behind the Radiographers Strike

After years of pay cuts and punishingly long shifts, radiographers are on strike to demand their worth. Amid an escalating staffing crisis, the stakes couldn't be higher.

tribunemag.co.uk

 

[moochedit]

Coventry bin strike back on....

Cov bin workers vote to strike in new dispute

Unite members have voted for industrial action almost a year after their last row ended

www.coventrytelegraph.net

 

[PR1Berske]

Stagecoach bringing in huge profits but offers workers inadequate pay deal

More than 1,000 Manchester Stagecoach drivers have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, with strikes beginning in August, Unite, the UK’s leading union, announced today (Friday).

The drivers have responsibility for manoeuvring large vehicles all day through heavy traffic and care for the safety of thousands of passengers. They have rejected an offer of just four per cent from June 2023 with a further four per cent in December. With the current rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 10.7 per cent, this is a real terms pay cut.

Stagecoach’s latest financial report showed its adjusted profit before tax increased 98 per cent to £36.4 million in the six months to 29 October 2022. For the 2021/2022 financial year, Stagecoach reported revenues of almost £1.2 billion with adjusted profits of £72.7 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Stagecoach is bringing in massive profits and can well afford to give its drivers a reasonable pay increase. The company must put forward an offer that acknowledges rising living costs and the demands of what is a difficult and stressful job. Unite’s top priority is our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and Manchester’s Stagecoach drivers have the full backing of their union.”

Strike action will take place on 11, 12, 13 and 14 August. Bus services across the whole of Manchester will be severely affected. More strikes will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved.

Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Stagecoach bears full responsibility for the disruption that will be caused to passengers. This dispute could have been settled with a sensible offer weeks ago and our members are striking as a last resort. Unite’s door remains open and we urge the company to return the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.”

ENDS

 

[hitmouse]

The results of the Unison HE ballot are now out, 13 more branches now have a mandate, joining the 9 existing ones to give 22 in total. Unfortunately, they've not updated the main campaign page on the website or written an article about it, or put it on the facebook page, so the only way to find this information is through a 16-post thread on the website that Elon Musk keeps breaking.

 

[hitmouse]

Scaffolders' wildcat at Hinkley Point C:

Hinkley Point scaffolders plan industrial action

Over 300 scaffolders plan to down tools every Wednesday

www.constructionenquirer.com

Hinkley Point scaffolders begin industrial action over pay and shift patterns

Over 300 scaffolders working at Hinkley Point C near Burnham-On-Sea have begun unofficial strike action, voicing their concerns about pay rates and shift patterns at the site.

www.burnham-on-sea.com

I certainly find it reassuring that we keep seeing disputes caused by attempts to cut costs by building this nuclear reactor on the cheap.

 

[LDC]

Know this was mentioned on some other thread and you asked if anyone had been hitmouse, here's a report anyway, stick it on the more appropriate thread if you can find it!

Notes from the Troublemakers’ conference in the UK – The problem with the rank-and-file - Angry Workers

After the first phase of the so-called strike wave the primary question is whether the strikes gave birth to new initiatives of self-organisaton amongst participating workers. This is difficult to assess. What we can see are various initiatives within the broad left to organise ‘rank-and-file’...

www.angryworkers.org