Strike!

[PR1Berske]

 

[hitmouse]

Probably fairly unlikely that there are any urbs free in Workington tomorrow morning, but if you are:

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/august/refuse-workers-to-hold-demonstration-as-cumberland-council-seeks-to-prolong-strikes/

Also, Unison got around to publishing an article about the 13 HE branches who just got their ballot, but forgot to mention the 9 other branches who also have ballots and will be able to join in with any action over the next few months, which was an important part of the actual strategy:

Autumn term strikes set to go ahead at 13 universities | Article, News | News | UNISON National

HE members have suffered a real-terms pay cut of around 25% over the last 14 years, due to year on year rises that were below inflation

www.unison.org.uk

 

[PR1Berske]

More rail strikes over pay and conditions will take place on Saturday 26 August and Saturday 2 September, the RMT union has announced.
About 20,000 members working for 14 train operating companies are expected to take part.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that its members would "continue fighting".

 

[LDC]

Too many strike & union related threads, but gonna post this here too...

ACG report on recent conference I mentioned above...

<strong>There may be trouble ahead…</strong> - Anarchist Communist Group

A conference entitled Troublemakers at Work seemed like an obvious place for anarchist communist workplace militants to be. So, some of us went. This is what we found. The conference, which took place in Manchester on the last weekend in July, was called by a number of activist groups focused...

www.anarchistcommunism.org

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Sounds an interesting meet-up. I think it might be easier to start afresh with non unionised workforces as opposed to trying to change the behemoths? The problem as I see it with the union represented workplaces is that they are generally better paid and more comfortably off than the non unionised work places. Which means they are less likely to be attracted to grass roots direct action. I'm personally Libcom but if the union is delivering the goods the workforce wants, why would they self organise to undermine the union?
I'm RMT which is basically run along syndicalist lines so maybe a mute point. It slightly annoys me though that Unions are placed as one homogenous group against them holding back workers tied to the bureaucracy. Makes me think those speaking have never stepped foot on a building site in their life and have just read some books.

 

[PR1Berske]

Train drivers at more than a dozen companies will strike on Friday, 1 September and refuse to work overtime on Saturday, 2 September, their union Aslef has said.

It marks the latest industrial action in Aslef's long-running pay dispute.

The overtime ban will coincide with a strike by other rail workers such as guards and station staff in the RMT union, in a separate dispute.

The RMT also has a strike on Saturday, 26 August.

Aslef's latest action follows a series of six-day overtime bans this summer, which have caused reductions in services and cancellations.

 

[hitmouse]

Wirral clinical support workers to strike:

NHS staff at Merseyside hospitals vote to strike after years of being underpaid | News, Press release | News | UNISON National

Hundreds of staff are underpaid for clinical tasks

www.unison.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

One thing I'd not really appreciated until being on strike myself and being relatively close to negotiations, obviously that legal requirement about getting 50% turnout for the start of a mandate is a massive shackle, but the thing about it only lasting for six months really loads the dice against you as well, especially with how the two week notice period wastes a lot of time in those six months anyway.
You can get an offer, reject it, strike, go back into talks, get a new offer, and if that's not good enough, you can reject it again, go back into talks again... and this should lead to improvements, but you know and they know the clock's ticking down, and if you don't get something agreed by the end of those six months, you have no mandate and so no leverage at all until you've reballoted. Not a particularly new or original thought, but the law is a proper pain in the arse there.

 

[hitmouse]

Wirral HCA strike dates set for 31 August-1 September:

Confirmation of 48-hour strike over ‘under-banding’ of HCAs | Nursing Times

Healthcare assistants (HCAs) at a hospital trust in the North of England will go on strike at the end of this month over pay.

www.nursingtimes.net

Also, solidarity to staff at University of Leeds, where Unite and Unison were out together over the A-level results period. Think Unison were striking at Sussex and Birmingham as well.

 

[hitmouse]

Stopped off to say hello at the picket at my local hospital this morning, and got given a sticker saying "#FIX CONSULTANT PAY NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE". Full solidarity to the BMA and that, but I can't help feeling that, as catchy slogans go, #fix consultant pay now and for the future isn't quite up there with coal not dole or black lives matter. Also, one of the doctors had a striking jumper with a picture of a seagull wearing a bobble hat. I refuse to believe there are two different seagull likers out there, so I have to assume that I just met farmerbarleymow this morning.

 

[hitmouse]

The St Mungos dispute has been settled:

Housing Workers

www.housingworkers.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

RSA staff vote overwhelmingly for first ever strike in the organisation’s history

* Staff at the RSA, represented by the IWGB are set to make history with the first strike since the charity was founded 270 years ago * The result of the vote was 93.33% in favour of strike action, with 78.95% of union members turning out * Strike days include the 21st September, which...

iwgb.org.uk

• Staff at the RSA, represented by the IWGB are set to make history with the first strike since the charity was founded 270 years ago
• The result of the vote was 93.33% in favour of strike action, with 78.95% of union members turning out
• Strike days include the 21st September, which will see the RSA host the Princess Royal for it’s Student Design Awards centenary awards ceremony
• Whilst most junior staff members’ pay has fallen below the level of inflation, money spent on the RSA’s leadership team jumped 170% this year from £359,000 to £976,000

They also say "We'll also be holding a fundraiser party on the evening of Thursday 14th September, so keep your eyes peeled for more information! It'll be held at Pelican House, 144 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E1 5QJ."

 

[hitmouse]

UCU calling five days nationally from the 25th-29th:

Start of university term to be hit with five days of UK-wide strikes

Staff at 140 universities across the UK will strike for five days later this month in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions.

www.ucu.org.uk

Bus drivers settling their disputes in Manchester and Warwick:

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/september/first-manchester-and-gmat-bus-strikes-off-after-unite-pay-victories/

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/september/stagecoach-warwickshire-bus-strikes-off-after-unite-pay-win/

And the Wirral hospital strikes set to continue:

Over 500 set to strike at Wirral hospitals next week

Hundreds of hospital staff on the Wirral are to stage fresh industrial action in a dispute over pay. After failing to reach an agreement with Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation

www.birkenhead.news

 

[hitmouse]

Unison strike dates announced at 21 universities over the start of term:

University staff to hold coordinated strikes over pay | News, Press release | News | UNISON National

Workers to walk out at 21 universities in England and Scotland

www.unison.org.uk

For some fucking reason, UCU and Unison have managed to co-ordinate at four Scottish unis, but not at the 17 English unis taking part in the action, although having said that there's two Unison branches in London that have named extra local dates that will coincide with some of UCU's. Oh, and UoM UCU taking an extra four dates the week before over MAB deductions:

Striking higher education institutions, September 2023

The elected representatives on UCU's higher education committee (HEC) decided to call for strike action in September 2023 over the national pay and working conditions dispute ('UCU Rising').

www.ucu.org.uk

 

[teqniq]

Interview with Mick Lynch of the RMT and Matt Wrack of the FBU on the anti strike law:

Mick Lynch and Matt Wrack: We Will Defy the Anti-Strikes Law

Following a historic motion backing non-compliance with anti-strikes law being passed at Trade Union Congress, the general secretaries of the RMT and FBU sit down with Tribune to discuss why a mass campaign of defiance matters for the future of the trade union movement.

tribunemag.co.uk

 

[PR1Berske]

10:50AM
Fresh train strikes to coincide with Conservative Party conference
Train drivers are to stage fresh strikes, coinciding with the Conservative Party’s annual conference, in their long-running dispute over pay.

Aslef announced its members at 16 train operators will walk out on September 30 – the day before the Tory conference starts in Manchester – and October 4, the final day of the event.

The union said the strikes will force train operators to cancel all services, causing travel chaos for passengers, including those travelling to and from the Conservative conference, which is being held from October 1 to 4.

 

[teqniq]

A nurse takes what passes for a goverment to task:



For those with no access to Twitter here's a huff Post article on the same:

Nurse Torches Government Over NHS Strikes On BBC Question Time: 'An Insult To Us All'

"Patients are at risk every single day of the week," she claimed.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Cleaners and concierge workers at a London luxury apartment complex have won an 8% pay rise and their Christmas bonus back:

Cleaners and concierge at London luxury apartments WIN BIG

UVW

www.uvwunion.org.uk

I think anyone who can spell concierge probably deserves an 8% rise for that alone, does it really have an i before an e but after a c?

 

[Sue]

Cleaners and concierge workers at a London luxury apartment complex have won an 8% pay rise and their Christmas bonus back:

Cleaners and concierge at London luxury apartments WIN BIG

UVW

www.uvwunion.org.uk

I think anyone who can spell concierge probably deserves an 8% rise for that alone, does it really have an i before an e but after a c?

French eh.

 

[hitmouse]

Can't find a proper write-up of this anywhere, but apparently this is happening on the Wirral:

 

[hitmouse]

Mid Cheshire HCAs have now won a pay rise backdated to 2018, which sounds pretty decent:

NHS strike called off as Mid Cheshire hospital staff reach deal with trust

NHS staff will not go one strike after a deal was reached with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

www.northwichguardian.co.uk

Go North East bus drivers are striking this week and set to go on allout strike at the end of October:

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/october/go-north-east-bus-workers-step-up-strike-action-with-all-out-strike

And Amazon Coventry workers set to strike in November, including Black Friday:

Amazon faces black Friday strikes as industrial action escalates

Amazon faces the biggest day of strike action in company history, GMB Union warns

www.gmb.org.uk

 

[PR1Berske]

19 October 2023

RMT Press Office:

Rail union RMT has smashed the anti trade union legal thresholds to secure another 6-month mandate for strike action in their long running national rail dispute.

Around 20,000 members were balloted across 14 rail companies with all of them individually achieving over a 50 percent turnout and overwhelming 'yes' votes for further strike action.

Overall 89.9% of members voted 'yes' for more strike action on a 63.6% turnout.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "I congratulate our members for delivering a decisive mandate for future industrial action as we pursue a negotiated settlement of jobs pay and conditions.

"This ringing endorsement of RMT's approach to the dispute now means we have industrial leverage to secure an improved offer from the RDG.

"The government who controls this dispute through a contractual mandate over the train operating companies, must now allow the Rail Delivery Group to put forward a revised offer so we can work towards reaching a settlement.

"However, if no new offer is forthcoming, we will once again take strike action in defence of our members livelihoods."

 

[hitmouse]

Few weeks old now, but Camden traffic wardens won a pretty significant increase through taking all-out action in September:

Camden traffic wardens celebrate pay deal after 59 days of strike action | Article, News | News | UNISON National

More than 100 workers took part in the successful, eight-week industrial action

www.unison.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Some petition things from Strike Map:

✍️Write to the Principal - stop the cuts at UHI

Write to the Principal. Stop the cuts at University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).

actionnetwork.org

✍️Write to the Vice Chancellor - Stop the sackings at Brighton University

Write to the vice chancellor. Stop the sackings and save Brighton University.

actionnetwork.org

Write to Gillian Keegan MP - stop the cuts at Connaught School for Girls

Write to Gillian Keegan MP to stop the cuts and the privatisation of Connaught School for Girls.

actionnetwork.org

 

[hitmouse]

UCU strikes at 30 FE colleges in mid-November:

Strikes set to go ahead next month at 30 English colleges

Three consecutive days of strike action are set to start on Tuesday 14 November at 30 colleges across England unless employers raise pay, announced UCU today.

www.ucu.org.uk

UNISON set to strike in some Scottish schools:

More Scottish schools to close as UNISON sets further strike dates | Article, News | News | UNISON National

Four more local authorities will be affected in second wave of action over pay

www.unison.org.uk

and Scottish Water:

Scottish Water staff to strike for four days in November | Article, News | News | UNISON National

UNISON says the action will have serious implications for water and sewage services

www.unison.org.uk

And the Environment Agency, although I can't find a proper article about that, just this instagram post:

But gravediggers in Rotherham aren't going on strike cos they've accepted an improved pay offer, so good news for anyone who's planning on dying in Rotherham I suppose:

Rotherham cemetery staff secure major pay victory | Article, News | News | UNISON National

Acceptance of a new offer ends long-running dispute with the private contractor

www.unison.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Oh, and Wirral posties set to strike over their workmates being sacked:

Wirral postal strikes loom over "vindictive" sackings

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION 24/10/2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WIRRAL POSTAL STRIKE LOOMS AFTER WORKERS VOTE FOR ACTION AGAINST “VINDICTIVE” SACKINGS Postal services in the Wirral may come to a stand-still after Royal Mail workers have voted to take action against the “petty” sacking of their

www.cwu.org

SUPPORT PRENTON ROYAL MAIL WORKERS - SACKED FOR TAKING A BREAK

Over the last 12 months’ people across the Wirral will have seen the quality of their Royal Mail postal service at an all-time low, due to management imposed cuts and unachievable delivery rounds. Postal services in the Wirral may come to a full stand-still after Royal Mail workers have voted to

www.cwu.org

 

[hitmouse]

Can't find a writeup of this outside of an instagram video, but looks like Wirral clinical support workers have now also won a pay increase backdated to 2018:

 

[PR1Berske]

From the Guardian

Train operators will be forced to guarantee that 40% of a normal timetable will run on strike days under a law to be introduced to parliament on Tuesday.

The minimum service level regulations would make sure that “certain priority routes can remain open”, the government said, although it was unclear which journeys would be covered.

Similar rules will be introduced for Border Force, which will have to ensure staffing levels will be at a level that means they are no less effective than normal.


Ambulance workers in England will also be bound by minimum service regulations during strike action, so that they always respond to life-threatening cases or if there is no clinical alternative. Even without strikes, ambulances are not always able to attend all calls.

The Conservatives have grappled with a wave of strike action by rail workers, teachers, health workers and others fuelled by anger at the failure of pay to keep pace with soaring inflation.

Disputes – some of which have since been resolved – have also centred on deteriorating working conditions, and the strikes have caused major disruption across England and Wales.

The government said minimum service levels would ensure that public services continue in the face of strikes, calling the measures “effective and proportionate”.

It follows the introduction of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act this year, which faced fierce criticism from trade unions as unworkable and a threat to the right to strike.

Rishi Sunak said the new regulations would prevent unions from “de-railing” Christmas for millions of people, with ministers hopeful that the legislation can be completed before the festive period.

“This legislation will ensure more people will be able to travel to see their friends and family and get the emergency care they need,” he added. “We cannot go on relying on short-term fixes – including calling on our armed forces or civil servants – to mitigate the disruption caused by strike action.”

Under the legislation, employers would issue work notices to identify people who are reasonably required to work during strikes, with unions compelled to take reasonable steps to make sure members comply or else lose legal protection from damages claims.


Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the TUC, said: “The crisis in our public services is of the government’s own making. Rather than engaging constructively with unions, they are attacking the right to strike, and they are punishing paramedics and rail staff for daring to stand up for decent pay and better services.

“These new laws are unworkable, undemocratic and almost certainly in breach of international law. The UK already has some of the most restrictive trade union laws in Europe. Now the Tories want to make it even harder for people to win fair pay and conditions.”

The rail unions also said the measure was unworkable. Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary of the TSSA, said: “We have been clear with the government – this legislation is not going to work, nor is it needed. Moreover, it’s undemocratic and a direct attack on the right to strike which is at the heart of British democracy.

“Again and again ministers attack railway workers by planning to make cuts in the industry and expect unions to stand aside, rather than standing up for members. This will only serve to inflame industrial tensions.”

Unions representing ambulance personnel criticised the laws as “pointless”, unlikely to improve 999 response times on strike days and an attempt to “scapegoat” staff for the dire state of the NHS.

“Sacking ambulance workers on strike won’t get the millions awaiting hospital treatment any closer to the top of the list”, said Sara Gorton, head of health at Unison. “It’s just a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the government’s appalling record on the NHS.”

 

[Ming]

Looks promising…

 

[Ming]

Can't find a writeup of this outside of an instagram video, but looks like Wirral clinical support workers have now also won a pay increase backdated to 2018:

I’m from the Wirral originally (Meols). Esther McVey lied to my face over a petition against the closure of a local post office. I asked her if it was a bipartisan petition and not solely a Tory one. She said it was until i pointed to the footer at the bottom of the document saying it was pure Tory. I then mentioned I was a socialist and the two minders she was with moved from behind to in front of her. I also mentioned the Tory record on post office closures. Lying cheeky Tory cunt.