Strike!

[articul8]

That kind of "tactical nous" and "understanding" has served the unions really well over the last 3 decades

The unions have spent 30 years being as effective as Serwotka in getting the case across in public? I don't know why you assume I'm asking them to be all soft and consensualist - I'm not. I'm saying be more effective and pick your battles carefully.

 

[Lo Siento.]

The unions have spent 30 years being as effective as Serwotka in getting the case across in public? I don't know why you assume I'm asking them to be all soft and consensualist - I'm not. I'm saying be more effective and pick your battles carefully.

The unions have spent 30 years imagining that getting their case across well to the public is the most important role of a trade union.

 

[articul8]

The unions have spent 30 years imagining that getting their case across well to the public is the most important role of a trade union.

why do you think that is?

 

[Lo Siento.]

why do you think that is?

Various reasons. I don't think anyone could conclude that it's worked well for them.

 

[articul8]

They've chosen to moderate their strategy though, and been shame-faced and embarrassed about themselved. This isn't what I'm suggesting by any means - just a bit smarter at judging when and where to go in all guns blazing.

 

[krink]

so what's this about another big strike this month?

 

[butchersapron]

Mildly successful wildcat
http://solidaritymagazine.org/2012/03/spontaneous-walk-out-at-bridgwater-sorting-office/

 

[butchersapron]

RMT confirms timetable for industrial action ballot on Tube Lines over pensions and staff travel

Ballot papers will be sent out to RMT members at Tube Lines, including ex-Alstom Stratford Market depot staff, on the 20th March with the ballot closing on the 16th April. RMT is calling for a massive yes vote for industrial action to back the union’s demand for equal pension and travel-pass rights.


Tube Lines staff are responsible for both maintenance and upgrade work on the Jubilee line, Northern line and Piccadilly line. They also provide a number of services across the network including the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Distribution Services and Trans Plant.


The union is demanding that all Tube Lines staff, including ex-Alstom staff at Stratford Market depot, be allowed to join the TfL Pension Scheme and receive the same travel concessions as those who work for LUL, including former Metronet staff.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

PCS has announced that they won't be taking strike action on 28 March. Teaching unions are also not taking action I believe. A new date is being sought in April PCS statement

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_e...ex.cfm/id/40E319D9-6ECC-487F-87884F102B1551F2

 

[nagapie]

PCS has announced that they won't be taking strike action on 28 March. Teaching unions are also not taking action I believe. A new date is being sought in April PCS statement

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_e...ex.cfm/id/40E319D9-6ECC-487F-87884F102B1551F2

My union has been texting me all week that the strike is on. NUT.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

I think NUT are doing something in London?

 

[nagapie]

I think NUT are doing something in London?

Ah, that must be it. But that's worrying as members will be reluctant to join a strike in March and in April.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Ah, that must be it. But that's worrying as members will be reluctant to join a strike in March and in April.

Just checked - NUT and UCU are taking action on 28th in London only. PCS are not. Can't find anything about Unite. EIS teachers are in talks with Scottish Government.

 

[krink]

anyone else heard if this march strike is definitely now off? i've managed to find absolutely nowt from unite.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

anyone else heard if this march strike is definitely now off? i've managed to find absolutely nowt from unite.

Unite are re-balloting I think (not sure why). So far for 28 March it's UCU and NUT in London who are taking strike action. Unite are definitely not taking action. Neither are PCS, NIPSA or Scottish and Welsh teachers. Further discussions are due to take place about a date in April after the NUT conference.

I assume the view is that if their conference overturns their NEC that it could rebuild momentum.

 

[krink]

ok cheers s&s

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

Unite were never going to go on strike in March it was all about overtures to the PCS.

 

[frogwoman]

Yeah what's happening with that? It all seemed like a bit of a fuck up

 

[Riklet]

General strike in Spain on the 29th.

Was asked if I would be on strike today, and that we are "allowed to" heh. I definitely will be, was a bit cautious about announcing it loudly before 'cos i'm quite new. Whilst it's not completly clear cut or anything in regards to people working/scabbing, I do have the option to strike n i'd rather protest against the labour changes which will put millions in the shit (myself included) rather than business as usual (teaching the scabs at a factory).

 

[dynamicbaddog]

PCS has announced that they won't be taking strike action on 28 March. Teaching unions are also not taking action I believe. A new date is being sought in April PCS statement

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_e...ex.cfm/id/40E319D9-6ECC-487F-87884F102B1551F2

What's all this about the Socialist Party bloc on the PCS NEC voting against action on the 28th?
-suprising given all their fighting talk about calling a 'public sector general strike'

 

[butchersapron]

Another postie wildcat, this time in warrington.

(Oddly enough, by some odd quirk, i think i know the central person involved in both of them somehow).

 

[frogwoman]

i think the argument for why pcs didn't vote for the strike was because the NUT pulled out and so there was a risk of a bad turnout - the NUT was originally going for national strike action but then they changed it so it was just in London. So the arguement was that PCS would have been isolated and have the risk of a poor turnout than otherwise. I think one of the problems is that the unions didn't call the strike earlier and whatever happened I think nobody publicised it enough - there should imo have been a strike in January to keep it going. I have to say I'm really not sure about this decision and if i have to be honest i will say it may well have been a mistake. We'll see though. To be honest I think the way all of these national strikes have been handled this year have been really bad. There should have been one far earlier and a lot more should have been done to publicise it.

We'll see though.

 

[nagapie]

I'm not really sure about the decision for the NUT to go ahead only in London. Think it might not have enough momentum to look powerful. Only half the members at my school are striking, very down from the last strike.

 

[dennisr]

What's all this about the Socialist Party bloc on the PCS NEC voting against action on the 28th?
-suprising given all their fighting talk about calling a 'public sector general strike'

Its called not leaving yourselves isolated - the idea is to fight to win - not to march your troops up and down the hill again

This comment explains the situation quite astutely:
"PCS did get a huge vote for action in the consultative ballot. But it was phrased as further joint strikes...but the other unions pulled out to a regional strike instead. So pcs were isolated. There had to be a rethink of tactics. It's a tough decision to make, pcs could have got it wrong, but in my opinion they have done the right thing...hold the line and wait for reinforcements Rather than charge forward alone"

 

[Smokeandsteam]

i think the argument for why pcs didn't vote for the strike was because the NUT pulled out and so there was a risk of a bad turnout - the NUT was originally going for national strike action but then they changed it so it was just in London. So the arguement was that PCS would have been isolated and have the risk of a poor turnout than otherwise. I think one of the problems is that the unions didn't call the strike earlier and whatever happened I think nobody publicised it enough - there should imo have been a strike in January to keep it going. I have to say I'm really not sure about this decision and if i have to be honest i will say it may well have been a mistake. We'll see though. To be honest I think the way all of these national strikes have been handled this year have been really bad. There should have been one far earlier and a lot more should have been done to publicise it.

We'll see though.

The recent PCS ballot result was the best the union has had so I'm not sure your line of argument is the same as the PCS NEC. The weekend after the ballot result the government leaked their plans to introduce regional pay in 3 government departments. A clear provocation and invitation to PCS to 'come and have a go' (particularly as the leaked proposal is premature and the pay body report isn't even due for another 3 months).

The problem though is this. The first strike in June involved PCS, NUT and others, the November strike involved 29 unions and
2.5 million workers. 28 March is London only action by NUT and UCU.

It looks and feels like de-escalation.

One day strikes are essentially protests. And moving to sustained, rolling action - the type of action required - seems further away and not nearer.

The unions never got into the fight on job cuts, pension changes will be imposed next month and there is now the spectre of regional pay.

The response and outcome of the dispute will determine the future of the trade unions in the public sector. Either a plan will be drawn up that is coherent and effective or the trade unions will end up as irrelevant in the public sector as they are in the private and service sector.

 

[dennisr]

Mark Serwotka update on the national campaign

 

[William of Walworth]

Thanks for the updates folks. I've been precoccupied elsewhere of late, and PCS (where I am, locally) is not getting the news out at all promptly, so there's definitely stuff I didn't know up there. Thanks.

 

[nagapie]

We had a pretty poor response at my school to tomorrow's strike. After a really good turn out for the last strike, only half our members chose to be out tomorrow. However I noticed today that quite a few more had put their names down, encouraged by the weather apparently.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

I'm in the UCU and publicity has been really poor about this strike and I wasn't balloted.

I am going out tomorrow but wish I was going out on a day when there was more strength behind the action - my action is only going to affect a handful of students who are pleased to have the evening off anyway (well I'm pleased about that too I have to say)

 

[butchersapron]

More heat:
Stansted baggage handlers vote for Easter strike

The GMB members working for Swissport will lose an estimated £1,000 each due to shift changes and say they will strike unless the company reconsiders the proposed changes.

The outcome of the ballot has been notified to Swissport. GMB has asked the company to reconsider the proposed pay cuts. If the company refuses and there is no progress in the dispute strike action will take place over the Easter bank holiday weekend.