Tuesday 6 May 2014

UNISON statement re Charlotte Monro

"Charlotte Monro has worked as an occupational therapist in the NHS for 34 years, employed by Whipps Cross NHS Trust – now Barts NHS Trust – since 1987. She was an active trade unionist for many years, representing workers at Whipps Cross Hospital as staff side chair and UNISON branch chair.
"She was dismissed by the Trust on 4 November 2013 following a lengthy investigation.
"UNISON is supporting Charlotte in taking Barts NHS Trust to an Employment Tribunal claiming that she was unfairly dismissed by the trust.
"No employer should be allowed to act in this way.  No NHS Trust can afford to lose such experienced and committed staff.
"We call on the Trust to reconsider its decision to dismiss such a long serving and valued health service worker, and to recognise the impact this has on the wider workforce morale and the reputation of the trust."
 
Dave Prentis
General secretary
 

Thursday 1 May 2014

Fw: Firefighters to strike 2/3/4 May


Firefighters to strike 2/3/4 May

Firefighters to strike 2/3/4 May

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Firefighters pensions strikes, 2, 3 & 4 MayFirefighters in England, Scotland and  Wales will take part in further industrial action over pensions, the Fire Brigades Union has announced.
English and Welsh firefighters will strike on:
  • Friday 2 May, between noon and 5pm
  • - Saturday 3 May, between 2pm and 2am
  • - Sunday 4 May, between 10am and 3pm.
There will also be a ban on voluntary overtime across England and Wales from 3pm on Sunday 4 May until noon on Friday 9 May.
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/firefighters-call-more-pensions-strikes-2-3-4-may/

Lambeth College strike on MaydayLambeth College UCU members are on strike today. They were due to start an all-out indefinite strike but college management have been granted an injuction.
A meeting last week saw 98 UCU members vote for the all-out action.
UCU members at the College are fighting new contracts that will mean worse pay and conditions. The new contracts are all about longer working hours, two weeks less holidays a year and much worse sick pay policy too.
Lambeth College management have also sold off the Brixton site to the Department for Education and there are now plans for a free school to take over.
This is a crucial battle that every trade unionist and activist needs to get behind.
Picket lines begin from 7am at the college's Brixton, Clapham and Vauxhall sites. A mass picket will take place at the college's Clapham site at 45 Clapham Common South Side, SW4 9BL.
There will be a strike rally at 6pm at the Karibu Centre, 7 Gresham Rd, London SW9 7PH.
Everyone who can should get down to the picket lines and the strike rally with collections, delegations and banners.
Please rush messages of support now to mandybrowncow@yahoo.com
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/lambeth-college-votes-for-all-out-strike/

Doncaster Care UK workers name dates for 2 week long strike: 5-19 MayThe Care UK strikers who have so far held 20 days of strikes over attacks on their wages have named dates for a two week strike which was voted for unanimously at thie last mass meeting. (Click here to see previous report)
The strike will be from Monday 5 May – Monday 19 May.
This is a serious escalation of the dispute. Solidarity is vital.
Click here to download an updated collection sheet.
Rush solidarity messages and requests for speakers to:
admin@unison-dab.org.uk
Make cheques payable to: Doncaster, District & Bassetlaw Health Branch and send to: Jenkinson House, White Rose Way, Doncaster DN4 5GJ
Email Care UK chief executive Mike Parish to complain about the way they're treating their workers: mike.parish@careuk.com
Visit the strike Facebook page 'Doncaster Supported Living Unison Strike' click here
Follow on twitter: @StrikeUnison
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/doncaster-care-uk-workers-name-dates-for-2-week-long-strike-5-19-may/
 

RMT strike shuts down the tube againThe RMT tube strike on Monday and Tuesday once again had a huge impact on London. The strike was solid across London. London Underground are trying to close every ticket office on the tube, axing 1,000 safety critical jobs.
RMT members will walk out again from 21:00 on Monday 5 May for three days.
Click here for a collection sheet to raise support for the RMT strike -> http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/collection-sheet-in-solidarity-with-the-tube-strikes/
 

Ritzy workers strike on MaydayRitzy cinema workers in Brixton are on strike from 6.30pm on Thursday 1st May.
The strikers, members of BECTU are demanding a living wage. As rents in Brixton soar, workers at the cinema simply can't afford to work at the Ritzy as things stand. Up to sixty strikers have picketed the cinema and they have had solidarity from local trade unionists.
Click here to download the collection sheet PDF
Click here for the Ritzy support leaflet to use at other Picturehouses' cinemas
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/ritzy-strike-collection-sheet/
 

London May Day march to honour Bob Crow & Tony BennAssembles 12 noon Thurs 1 May, Clerkenwell Green
Thursday 1 May:
Trade Union Rights – Human Rights – International Solidarity
May Day 2014 Honours Tony Benn & Bob Crow
March & Rally
Assemble Clerkenwell Green Ec1 12 Noon
(Nearest Tube Farringdon)
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/london-may-day-march-to-honour-bob-crow-tony-benn-assembles-12-noon-thurs-1-may-clerkenwell-green/
 

Sheffield Unite the Resistance May Day event, Saturday 3 MayMay Day justice day march and rally from 12 noon, Saturday 3 May, at Devonshire Green, led by NAPO, who are fighting privatisation and solicitors, fighting legal aid cuts, with speakers including Janet Alder, and strikers from Care UK and SOAS.
This will be followed by a Unite the Resistance event 1pm-4pm, Saturday 3 May, at Plug on Matilda Street, with discussion, film music and free food. Themes include NHS pay fight, no to racism, no to austerity and 30 years after the Great Miners' Strike.
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/sheffield-unite-the-resistance-may-day-event-saturday-3-may/
 
 
EDF Energy workers to strike twice in pay disputeNearly 500 workers at EDF Energy will be taking strike action on Tuesday 6 May and Thursday 8 May in a three-pronged pay dispute.
The EDF centres that will be affected by the strikes are at: Heath House, 255 Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent, BA6 8ET; Bangor Wharf, Georgiana Street, London, NW1 0QS;  Atlantic House, Henson Road, Three Bridges, Crawley, RH10 1QQ; Unit 7, Anglo Office Park, Clarence Road, Speedwell, Bristol, BS15 1NT; Osprey House, Osprey Road, Exeter, EX2 7WN;  Gadeon House, Grenadier Road, Exeter Business Park, Exeter, EX1 3UT; and 334 Outland Road, Plymouth, PL3 5TU.
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/edf-energy-workers-to-strike-twice-in-pay-dispute/

 
NUT to strike again to stop Gove's attacks"The National Union of Teachers has confirmed the next stages of its campaign to Stand up for Education and the teaching profession.  The Union will be engaging with parents and the general public, pressuring politicians and, if significant progress is not made in talks with Government, the Union will be taking strike action and seeking to coordinate with other unions in late June, including with NASUWT.
"Early next term the Union will seek volunteers amongst its members to lobby MPs and to run street stalls to engage with the public. 
"The Union will demand that Michael Gove attends talks with the unions to discuss his education policies, on workload and accountability, teacher pay including performance related pay and his unfair pension changes.
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/nut-to-strike-again-to-stop-goves-attacks/
 

Unison to ballot 600,000 local government and school workers for strikes over payUnison announced that it will ballot 600,000 of its local government and school workers for strikes over a pay offer that would see 90 percent receive just a 1 percent increase in their pay.
In the consultation 70 percent of members rejected the pay offer.
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/unison-to-ballot-600000-local-government-and-school-workers-for-strikes-over-pay/
 

Unison's national health conference votes for industrial action ballot including strikesDelegates at Unison Health Conference have voted overwhelmingly, passing a motion for a ballot for industrial action up to and including strikes in response to the Tories' insulting pay offer.
Unite have now also announced that they will run a consultation over possible strike action prior to a ballot for strike action. (see here: http://bit.ly/1iUXG55)
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/unisons-national-health-conference-votes-for-industrial-action-ballot-including-strikes/
 
 
Unite the Resistance 'Britain Needs a Pay Strike' leafletHere is a new leaflet which you may find useful making the arguments for coordinated strikes over pay and point to the examples of a rash of recent dispute victories that can give everyone the confidence to argue for action.
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/new-unite-the-resistance-britain-needs-a-pay-strike-leaflet/
 

Global hotel chain's shareholders face protests over union rights and "living wage'The shareholders' meeting of a top global hotel chain will be picketed this week over the failure to uniformly pay the London 'living wage'  and for dragging its feet over access to trade union membership for its workforce.
The hotel workers' branch of Unite, the country's largest union, will be protesting outside the shareholders' meeting of the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) at the Park Lane Intercontinental Hotel W1J 7QY on Friday (2 May).
The shareholders' meeting starts at 11.00 – and the Unite protesters plan to be outside the hotel from 09.30 to 11.00.
The previous day (Thursday 1 May) hotel workers will stage a demonstration outside the Holiday Inn, Kings Cross WC1X 9HX from noon to 12.30 – ahead of the International Labour May Day march and rally.
http://uniteresist.org/2014/04/global-hotel-chains-shareholders-face-protests-over-union-rights-and-living-wage/