Strike!

[hitmouse]

PCS/UVW joint strike all month at Royal Parks:

Members from Just Ask Services rally to launch first day of October strike action

Cleaners and playground attendants at the Royal Parks gathered in St James’s Park on the first day of their month long strike.

www.pcs.org.uk

Sage Nursing Home:


And more on the UAL cleaners strike:

UAL Cleaners Are Fighting the Outsourcing Agenda

Last week, cleaners at University of the Arts London went on strike. It is just the latest battle in the fight against outsourcing and diminishing conditions across the economy – but it is one they intend to win.

tribunemag.co.uk

 

[MickiQ]

Sure it'll be a piece of piss for the council to get strikebreakers in, I hear there's tons of unemployed HGV drivers desperately looking for anyone who'll hire them at the moment.

Perhaps they will be able to import some from Poland

 

[hitmouse]

Cleaners at facebook balloting for action over workloads and the victimisation of a union activist:

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Cleaners protests on 8th and 15th October - Anarchist Communist Group

Facebook cleaners, members of CAIWU (the Cleaners and Allied Independent Workers' Union) are balloting for strike action over the dismissal of one of their members. The workers are employed by Churchill Group agency which has subjected cleaners to excessive workloads which are causing ill health...

www.anarchistcommunism.org

Workplace Notes: strike news - Anarchist Communist Group

Manchester TramsManchester Metrolink workers are set to strike on Sunday 10th October, the same day as the Manchester Marathon, over management’s poor pay offer. More info from Unite. Stagecoach busesBus drivers at Stagecoach will be out on strike on 18th October in the South West, East Midlands...

www.anarchistcommunism.org

Weetabix Fire and Rehire - Anarchist Communist Group

Engineers at two Weetabix factories went out on a two-day strike in late September. The workers at Kettering and Corby came out over fire and rehire proposals from the bosses which would mean a loss of up to £5,000 a year. In addition, the bosses have proposed a move from a regular Monday to...

www.anarchistcommunism.org

 

[Mr.Bishie]

You couldn’t make this up;

 

[magneze]

 

[Serge Forward]

The Greens have form for this. Didn't Caroline Lucas and her mates go out and clean streets during a precious dust strike?

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Yep, in 2013

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Tories on bikes

 

[hitmouse]

Also, Manchester tram strike is off after winning a pay rise:

Manchester Metrolink strikes suspended as workers secure improved pay offer

…

www.unitetheunion.org

Manchester tram strike back on now, first day on October 10th:

Metrolink workers to strike on city marathon day in fight for fair pay

Over 300 drivers and supervisors on Manchester's Metrolink tram network - members of Unite, the UK’s leading union - will stage a one day strike on Sunday 10 October, the day of the city's marathon.

www.unitetheunion.org

Update, Manchester tram strike is now suspended again:

Manchester Metrolink strike suspended as fresh pay offer proposed

A strike scheduled for this Sunday (10 October) on Manchester’s Metrolink tram system has been suspended at the eleventh hour, following a fresh pay offer.

www.unitetheunion.org

But 15th, 18th and 24th might still be going ahead if they vote to reject the new offer.

 

[hitmouse]

Wigan pay strikes could spark UK-wide Coca Cola bottle shortage

Nearly 150 factory workers are striking over an 'insulting' two per cent pay rise

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Llanelli posties coming out tomorrow in support of a victimised colleague:


(fb here if people prefer that)

Also, GMB now balloting other groups of workers in Brighton:

GMB Union to additionally ballot Cityclean Refuse and Recycling Loaders and Street cleansing teams operatives after dispute talks break down

‘It so disappointing as Friday’s meeting had left us with the impression that we had made good progress in moving towards a resolution and halting strike action, but today has seen a clear about turn and retraction of certain positional assurances by the council team' says GMB southern.

www.gmb-southern.org.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Dunno if this'll actually lead to anything or if it's just tough talk that'll end up going nowhere, but fwiw:

Improve local government pay offer or face strike action, says UNISON | News, Press release | News | UNISON National

Ballot on action expected to begin next month

www.unison.org.uk

School staff, refuse collectors and council workers reject 'offensive' pay offer

GMB refuse collectors, school staff and council workers have overwhelmingly rejected a ‘pathetic’ pay offer.

www.gmb.org.uk

Unite council staff ‘support industrial action’, after voting overwhelmingly to reject ‘insulting’ 1.75 per cent pay offer

Unite’s 70,000 local government members voted by 81 per cent to reject the 1.75 per cent offer earmarked for council staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland made by the Local Government Association (with 2.75 per cent for those on the bottom pay point) for 2021/22. Of the 81 per cent...

www.unitetheunion.org

 

[hitmouse]

More Stagecoach strikes confirmed:

Stingy Stagecoach pushes Lancashire drivers to strike over pay

Bus services in south Lancashire face severe disruption later this month as drivers employed by the Ribble Motor Services Ltd, part of the Stagecoach group, take strike action over low pay.

www.unitetheunion.org

So that's Preston and Chorley striking through Unite, Mansfield, Worksop, Chesterfield, Exter, Barnstaple and Torquay striking through RMT, South Wales have voted to strike but no dates set yet, and Manchester and Scotland currently balloting. I hope there's going to be some national-level co-ordination going on with these.

Update on this, the Lancashire strike seems to be suspended while they vote on a new pay offer:

Lancashire bus strikes suspended as new pay offer on the table

Planned strike action scheduled for next week by bus drivers employed by Ribble Motor Services Ltd (part of the multimillion pound Stagecoach group) based at the Preston and Chorley bus depots has been suspended following an improved pay offer.

www.unitetheunion.org

Meanwhile, strike dates have been confirmed for Stagecoach drivers in Cwmbran, Brynmawr and Blackwood:

Unite Members at Stagecoach Wales set for industrial action

Following the result of the recent Industrial Action ballot of Unite Wales members in Stagecoach South Wales, strike action has been called across the Cwmbran, Brynmawr and Blackwood depots.

www.unitetheunion.org

Unite seem to have forgotten to mention the dates in their own press release, but Cwmbran Life says it's:
• Starting at 02:00 hours on 19 October 2021 and continuing each day up to 24 October 2021 when the action will end at 01:59 hours

• Starting at 02:00 hours on 25 October 2021 and continuing up to 26 October 2021 when the action will end at 01:59 hours

• Starting at 02:00 hours on 29 October 2021 and continuing each day up to 31 October 2021 when the action will end at 01:59 hours

• Starting at 02:00 hours on 1 November 2021 and continuing each day up to 7 November 2021 when the action will end at 01:59 hours

• Starting at 02:00 hours on 8 November 2021 and continuing each day up to 10 November 2021 when the action will end at 01:59 hours

• Starting at 02:00 hours on 12 November 2021 and continuing up to 13 November 2021 when the action will end at 01:59 hours

 

[belboid]

Of purely historical interest:

On the day that most likely translates to October 13, 1157 BCE in our current calendar, the earliest recorded strike in history was first reported. The dispute is recounted in a papyrus written by a scribe in the ancient Egyptian town that is now called Deir el-Medina. Gangs of skilled construction workers in the employ of Pharaoh Ramses III stopped work when, eighteen days after their payday, they had still not received their wages, which would have been paid in food and other goods. The workers shouted that they were hungry and sat down by a temple. Officials gave them some pastries, and they returned home, but the following day they protested once more, demanding their pay at the central grain storehouse in Thebes. Eventually they received their back pay, but the pattern of workers needing to go on strike to be paid what they were owed was repeated multiple times.
*

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Of purely historical interest:

On the day that most likely translates to October 13, 1157 BCE in our current calendar, the earliest recorded strike in history was first reported. The dispute is recounted in a papyrus written by a scribe in the ancient Egyptian town that is now called Deir el-Medina. Gangs of skilled construction workers in the employ of Pharaoh Ramses III stopped work when, eighteen days after their payday, they had still not received their wages, which would have been paid in food and other goods. The workers shouted that they were hungry and sat down by a temple. Officials gave them some pastries, and they returned home, but the following day they protested once more, demanding their pay at the central grain storehouse in Thebes. Eventually they received their back pay, but the pattern of workers needing to go on strike to be paid what they were owed was repeated multiple times.
*

On this day thread>

This thread is for current and upcoming strikes, not historical ones.

 

[belboid]

Good point. I’ll just add the Chesterfield stagecoach strike deets here then

'Severe disruption' fears as Chesterfield bus drivers announce pre-Christmas strike over pay

Bus drivers at Stagecoach in Chesterfield are set to strike in a dispute with bosses over pay.

www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk

 

[hitmouse]

Has a full breakdown of the results from the various NHS pay ballots - it's not looking good, turnout % wise:

NHS pay dispute from below – Online newsletter no.4

Striking health workers in Berlin The main healthcare unions have spent the last 6 weeks consulting their members on the 3% pay ‘rise’, which has now trickled into some workers’ September wage slip…

healthworkersunited.wordpress.com

 

[belboid]

Good point. I’ll just add the Chesterfield stagecoach strike deets here then

'Severe disruption' fears as Chesterfield bus drivers announce pre-Christmas strike over pay

Bus drivers at Stagecoach in Chesterfield are set to strike in a dispute with bosses over pay.

www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk

And it's off already. Got an email from Stagecoach saying they've agreed to settle, but no details yet:

Following ongoing discussions with RMT and Unite unions, we are pleased to say there will be no industrial strike action in Chesterfield on Monday 18th October or further dates at this time.​

We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the RMT and Unite unions that provides a fair deal for our employees in Chesterfield and helps to secure the long-term sustainability of the local bus network.​

 

[hitmouse]

And it's off already. Got an email from Stagecoach saying they've agreed to settle, but no details yet:

Following ongoing discussions with RMT and Unite unions, we are pleased to say there will be no industrial strike action in Chesterfield on Monday 18th October or further dates at this time.​

We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the RMT and Unite unions that provides a fair deal for our employees in Chesterfield and helps to secure the long-term sustainability of the local bus network.​

Would be interesting to try and keep track of how many strikes are being headed off at the last minute by pay deals - like, the Unite website reports this happening with Lancashire Stagecoach drivers, Chesterfield (although that also says Chesterfield is suspended pending a ballot, not fully resolved as yet), and DHL drivers on the Sainsbury contract, and that's just yesterday. Plus the Manchester tram thing, although again that offer hasn't been accepted by the members yet, and they have previously rejected one "improved" offer already. I suppose that sort of thing happens all the time to some extent, but having it happen in three different disputes on one day seems rare?

Anyway, confirmed that Manchester Stagecoach drivers will be out on strike starting Tuesday 26th:

Greater Manchester braced for traffic turmoil as Stagecoach bus drivers vote for strikes

Greater Manchester is braced for severe travel disruption later this month as over 1,000 bus drivers employed by Stagecoach begin strike action over pay.

www.unitetheunion.org

Or maybe they won't if Stagecoach makes a new pay offer at the last minute, which seems not unlikely at this point.

Oh, and this article from the RMT has some good detail on exactly how shoddy some of the "improved" offers that Stagecoach are trying to avoid strikes with are:

Bus workers strike goes ahead in the South West

BUS UNION RMT said today that a strike on Stagecoach Southwest will go ahead on Monday after rejecting a company pay offer loaded with savage cuts to conditions and benefits that would drive even more key staff out of the industry at a time when it's already haemorrhaging drivers.

www.rmt.org.uk

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Latest from Brighton:

 

[Mr.Bishie]

“When they’re against the bin strike, & have Green Party Member in their bio…Environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening"



(Brighton Wobblies)

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Greens bringing in the external scabs tomorrow to start clearing the shite.

 

[kenny g]

You’re betraying your Quaker roots: fury at Clarks’ ‘fire and rehire’ plan

The shoe firm was founded in Street in Somerset in 1825. Now workers there are on strike and feel a proud history is being erased

www.theguardian.com

Perhaps one reason people aren't buying their shoes is since they were taken over by a private equity business the quality went to shite.. Now apparently this is going to be clawed back by reducing wages to minimum wage..

 

[hitmouse]

Good news from Great Ormond Street (I appreciate it can be annoying to just link to tweets but they don't seem to have a proper writeup of it yet):


Also, protest at the Royal Parks trustees meeting in support of striking park workers on Wednesday:

Royal Parks protest 20 October | Public and Commercial Services Union

www.pcs.org.uk

Royal Parks protest 20 October​

Start date

20 October 2021 - 09:00
End date

20 October 2021 - 12:00
Location

Old Police House, Hyde Park
Who's it for

Everyone

At the end of week 3 of a month of strike action, Just Ask estate services and Royal Parks have still not agreed to our members' demands for fair sick pay.
PCS members will be protesting outside the Royal Parks trustees' meeting, urging them to intervene and resolve the dispute.
We are asking supporters from across the labour movement to join our protest, at the Old Police Station in Hyde Park at 9am.

 

[hitmouse]

Oh, turns out there is indeed a proper write-up of the GOSH victory:

UVW members declare victory as GOSH commit to full equality

UVW

www.uvwunion.org.uk

Another reminder that the SAGE strike starts on Thursday:

“All key workers deserve decent work and a living wage” – carers in North London declare strike action

UVW

www.uvwunion.org.uk

Strike at Sage – Quality care deserves quality pay

UVW members, care, domestic and maintenance workers at Sage Nursing home in North London declared a huge victory after a protracted dispute over poverty pay and decent working conditions. Winning the London Living Wage, resulting in a minimum pay rise of 11% for some workers and all other staff...

www.uvwunion.org.uk

Carers, domestic, and maintenance workers at Sage Nursing Home in North London are taking strike action. Join us on the picket line on 21 October, 8am-11am at Sage Nursing Home, 208 Golders Green Rd, London NW11 9AL.


“We built a high profile campaign, supported by care workers around the UK, that led to strike action at the start of the year in the harshest of conditions during a global pandemic lockdown.


Yet Sage Nursing trustees not only failed to keep their word but they also continue to preside over a workplace that is short-staffed, mismanaged and where bullying, favouritism, and a blame culture is rife. They have tried every trick in the book to break us but our resolve is stronger than ever.” Bile, Sage care worker.

If you're interested in helping support the strike, there's a sign-up form here to join the solidarity group:

Sage Nursing Home - Strike action group

Carers, domestic and maintenance workers at Sage Nursing home in North London will commence strike action on night of 20 October, 21st and 22nd October. Thank you for signing up to take action on the strike days. We will be in touch with plans very soon, please leave your details below and let...

docs.google.com

 

[hitmouse]

Anyway, confirmed that Manchester Stagecoach drivers will be out on strike starting Tuesday 26th:

Greater Manchester braced for traffic turmoil as Stagecoach bus drivers vote for strikes

Greater Manchester is braced for severe travel disruption later this month as over 1,000 bus drivers employed by Stagecoach begin strike action over pay.

www.unitetheunion.org

Or maybe they won't if Stagecoach makes a new pay offer at the last minute, which seems not unlikely at this point.

Manchester Stagecoach strike is off, they've now accepted a new offer of 3.7% backdated to the first of the month plus £150:

Manchester Stagecoach strikes off as workers agree improved pay offer

Threats of strike action on Manchester’s bus services have ended after over 1,000 bus drivers accepted a greatly improved pay offer.

www.unitetheunion.org

£150 seems a bit low for a special one-off payment, but I suppose I'd rather have that than nowt?

 

[hitmouse]

How the Brighton Bin Strike Won

After a 14-day strike, refuse collectors in Brighton have won a deal that will see low-paid council workers across the city get a pay rise – it’s yet another victory that proves the power of collective action.

tribunemag.co.uk

 

[William of Walworth]

GPs in England threaten industrial action over in-person appointments

Actual STRIKE!! possible, but we'll see!!

 

[Shechemite]

Scots care workers protest outside Holyrood with calls for £15 per hour wage

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie voiced her support for the campaign, and attended the protest outside Holyrood with a number of her colleagues.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk