National Shop Stewards Network

NSSN 203 – FBU Gaza statement

July 30, 2014 in Bulletins

The vast majority of trade unionists are outraged by the events in Gaza over the last few weeks and many have attended the protests and demonstrations that have taken place. In this week’s NSSN e-bulletin, we re-produce the FBU’s statement on Gaza. The Fire Brigades Union deplores the horrific attacks on Gaza and calls for an immediate, negotiated and total ceasefire. The union sends our support, solidarity and sympathy to all those affected by the conflict, including the families of the victims. In particular, the FBU applauds the tremendous work done by firefighters helping the victims of atrocities, and […]

Tags: 24 General strike, Affiliate, Appeal, austerity, BFAWU, blacklist, bob crow, bullying, Care UK, condems, CWU, Doncaster Care UK, fbu, Gaza, general strike, GMB, housing, lobby, napo, nhs, no cuts, nssn, Pay, pcs, pensions, poa, rmt, Strike, terms and conditions, tesco, TUC, UCU, Unison, Unite
No Comments »

Justice for Doncaster Eddie Stobart/Tesco drivers

July 29, 2014 in Appeals

From Unite the union: In July 2012 Tesco transferred 184 drivers to Eddie Stobarts at their distribution centre in Doncaster. Less than six months later 184 drivers were out of work. The drivers’ union, Unite, has continued to support the drivers including pursuing legal action for unfair dismissal and insufficient consultation. As part of the legal process we have seen documents which show that Tesco and Stobarts were in discussions regarding the redundancies well in advance of the transfer. Our members didn’t stand a chance. We are here today to demonstrate that Unite members will not lie down and let Tesco […]

Tags: Drivers, Eddie Stobart, tesco, Unite
No Comments »

Doncaster Care UK workers on the picket line again

July 29, 2014 in News

On 29 July, Doncaster Care UK workers, members of Unison, began another two weeks of strike action. They have already taken 34 days of strike action between February and May against 35% pay cuts as a result of the privatisation of the Supported Living Service for Adults with Learning Difficulties. Unison has declared a new industrial dispute in support of a pay claim including a ‘living wage’ for all Doncaster Care UK staff. The company have already declared no pay rise whatsoever for this year. Consultative and formal ballots produced yes votes for strike action. The Care UK workers have […]

Tags: doncaster, Doncaster Care UK, nhs, Strike, Unison
No Comments »

202: Action builds confidence; Confidence builds action.

July 24, 2014 in Bulletins

The marvellous display of working class solidarity we witnessed during the huge strike of July 10 has, as we predicted, given renewed confidence to whole layers of the trade union movement. J10 saw the big guns move into action – government workers, schoolworkers, firefighters – but this week sees some of the smaller sections of our movement continue or announce their intention to start strike action, as well as healthworkers moving onto the scene. Argos strike Unite members at the 5 Argos warehouses at Basildon in Essex, Bridgewater in Somerset, MagnaPark in Lutterworth, Haywood near Manchester and Castleford in Yorkshire […]

Tags: ambulance, austerity, bob crow, GMB, nhs, nssn, Pay, rmt, Strike, terms and conditions, Unison, Unite
No Comments »

Ritzy strikers march for a Living Wage

July 18, 2014 in Protest

Strikers at Brixton’s Ritzy cinema were joined by fellow BECTU members and supporters in a march around central London yesterday. The march was part of their long running fight for the London Living Wage of £8.80 an hour. The route took in several well known London cinema’s owned by Cine World, the parent company of the Ritzy. The march concluded with a rally at the London Assembly. There were speeches from BECTU General Secretary Gerry Morrissey, film maker Ken Loach, Labour London Assembly member Fiona Twycross and Ritzy shop steward Rob Lugg. A message of solidarity was read out from […]

Tags: BECTU, BFAWU, Cine World, Ken Loach, living wage, Pay, Picture House, Ritzy Cinema, Ritzy Living Wage, Strike
No Comments »

Mark Serwotka to speak at NSSN rally at the TUC Conference

July 17, 2014 in News, Video

The National Shop Stewards Network is pleased to announce that PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka will be speaking at the NSSN rally at TUC Conference on 7th September The NSSN conference on July 5th agreed that the Network will hold a public rally at this year’s TUC Congress in Liverpool to lobby delegates to keep up the pressure for further co-ordinated strikes – 2pm Sunday September 7th in Jury’s Hotel opposite Echo Arena conference centre in Albert Dock. Whether you’re a delegate or not, come along and help us keep up the pressure! In his speech to the London strike rally […]

Tags: 24 General strike, general strike, Liverpool, Mark Serwotka, no cuts, nssn, Pay, pcs, TUC, TUC Conference 2014
No Comments »

201: NSSN rally at TUC Congress:‘Confirm the next pay strikes!’

July 16, 2014 in Bulletins

The tremendous #J10 public sector strike last Thursday has changed the mood music. All of a sudden it is the government desperately re-arranging the deck chairs on its Titanic with its latest re-shuffle. As the NSSN predicted, if the unions give workers a lead, they will respond. Not only that, the action was overwhelmingly popular as all those who have suffered from these cruel cuts were delighted to support someone standing up for them. This is particularly the case as Labour shamefully refused to support the strike. But it was clear on July 10 that workers realise that to win, […]

Tags: 24 General strike, Affiliate, Appeal, austerity, BECTU, BFAWU, blacklist, bob crow, condems, CWU, Fast Food Rights, fbu, general strike, GMB, housing, John McDonnell MP, lobby, napo, nhs, no cuts, nssn, NUJ, NUT, Pay, pcs, pensions, poa, Ritzy Living Wage, rmt, Strike, terms and conditions, TUC, UCU, Unison, Unite, £10 minimum wage
No Comments »

Firefighters rally to defend Ashley Brown

July 15, 2014 in News, Protest

Over 100 fire-fighters and supporters held a rally outside Hertfordshire County Council offices this morning to demand the reinstatement of Ashley Brown. The FBU member was dismissed by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service in December following comments he made on social media regarding the unions industrial action in defence of pensions. Speaking to the rally FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack condemned employers for their increasing attempts to control the opinions of fire-fighters. Citing previous campaigns against victimisation, such as an eight year campaign for a fire-fighter sacked during the 2003 pay strike, Matt Wrack pledged the union would fight as […]

Tags: #WeAreAshleyBrown, Ashley Brown, fbu, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Matt Wrack
No Comments »

VIDEO: #J10 Public sector strike

July 14, 2014 in News, Protest, Video

Public sector workers in nine different unions were out on strike in force on 10 July 2014 in a magnificent show of strength to demand an end to the pay freeze. Local government workers in Unison, Unite and GMB; civil servants in the PCS and Nipsa, teachers in the NUT, fire-fighters in the FBU, and sections of London transport workers in RMT and TSSA all went on strike on the same day, uniting in action to tell the government that they can’t tolerate any further driving down of living standards. Speaking at the London rally PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka […]

Tags: 24 General strike, austerity, BFAWU, fbu, general strike, GMB, lobby, Mark Serwotka, Matt Wrack, nhs, NIPSA, no cuts, nssn, NUT, Pay, pcs, SERTUC, Strike, TUC, Unison, Unite
No Comments »

Victory for Look Ahead Unite Members!

July 14, 2014 in News

Look Ahead Victory! Strike Off! There has been a stunning eve-of-strike victory for Look Ahead Unite Members. After weeks of negotiation and an escalating threat of industrial action, with a seven day strike due to start on Thursday 9th July, members working in the four Hackney Look Ahead services were finally made an offer that they considered acceptable – and what a victory! The offer included guaranteed redeployment or retention on current pay and conditions for those who wish to stay in service, enhanced redundancy for those who wish to leave, and trade union recognition for the Unite organised projects […]

Tags: Look Ahead, Unite
No Comments »