Crisis in British semiconductor sector
16 February 2023
British manufacturers use over a trillion chips a year. There is a chronic shortage, but the governemt has no strategy to deal with the crisis.
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News
Physiotherapists’ first-time strike
16 February 2023
Physiotherapists and support workers at over 60 NHS Trusts across England began a rolling programme of strikes on 26 January in pursuit of their pay claim – the first time they have ever taken strike action.
Pay cuts continue
16 February 2023
Households are suffering the worst squeeze in real incomes since 1945. Real pay fell by 2.5 per cent the last quarter of 2022.
London bus drivers settle for big pay rise
14 February 2023
London Abellio bus drivers have won a big pay increase after a long-running dispute. They accepted a greatly increased offer of an18 per cent pay rise.
Teachers’ strikes for pay begin
14 February 2023
Teachers in the (NEU) joined other public sector workers on strike on 1 February. National Education Union members held the first of six days planned strike action throughout England and Wales.
Strike action hits Diageo Leven plant
13 February 2023
Engineering workers at Diageo’s Leven plant in Fife took strike action over the first weekend in February in an escalating dispute over pay. They face pay cuts from changes to pay introduced unilaterally by the company.
Energy workers in struggle
11 February 2023
Offshore oil workers on two BP platforms are taking action on pay and rotas. Other energy sector workers, both offshore and onshore, are pressing their own pay claims.
Deadly consequences of failure to treat early
28 January 2023
A major study shows that the rush to prevent deaths from Covid-19 raised the risk of dying from the more well known killers of undiagnosed high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Big wins at Luton airport
28 January 2023
Luton airport staff have won a 28 per cent pay rise as union activity in the private sector accelerates.
Fast track strike
25 January 2023
The pay struggle in the civil service is spreading. PCS members in several departments are striking, other areas are likely to follow.
Devolution dividing Britain
25 January 2023
The government’s drive to divide Britain is gathering pace with a devolution deal for the North East of England, and the second round of “levelling up” funding for councils across the country.
New wave of action set to hit university employers
22 January 2023
Next month will see 70,000 members of the University and College Union striking across Britain in 150 universities, beginning on Wednesday 1 February.
Another medical school denied support for British student doctors
20 January 2023
The government has told another new medical school that no British students will be supported – although it can recruit overseas students.
School strikes ahead after big vote for action
20 January 2023
School teachers in England and Wales, members of the National Education Union (NEU), have voted to take industrial action over pay. Strikes, both national and regional, are set to affect 23,000 schools.
Government again fails to put British steel jobs first
13 January 2023
Up to 440 British steel jobs are at risk as the government fails to exploit the opportunities presented by Brexit, fails to deal with massive increase in energy costs to industry, and betrays Britain’s steel workers.
Map reveals scale of sewage dumping...in real time
7 January 2023
After growing pressure from campaigners and the public, England’s biggest water company has created what it calls a “near real-time” interactive map – showing the scale of its sewage dumping.
Nurses expose ministers' lies
On 15 December nurses conducted the first-ever national strike in the 106-year history of the Royal College of Nursing, followed by a second strike day on 20 December. The government is so far avoiding meaningful negotiations.
Amazon faces first strike
For the first time in Britain, Amazon workers are exerting their trade union organisation in pursuit of higher pay. GMB members at the company’s Coventry site have voted to back strike action for an increase to £15 an hour.
Medical Schools - Only for foreign students
The good news: new medical schools are operating in Britain. The bad news: they are unable to accept British students, and will be recruiting only applicants from abroad.
Government sabotages rail deal [print version]
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has slammed the government for scuppering a deal which could have prevented rail strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
Vaccines - Strategy obliterated [print version]
The joined-up thinking that characterised Britain’s immediate response to the need for a Covid-19 vaccine in 2020 is now just a memory – despite its stunning success in helping to protect the population.
Finance - More deregulation
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced a package of financial sector reforms speaking in Edinburgh on 9 December.
Northern Ireland - Legislation stopped
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has stopped the passage of a vital piece of legislation designed to bolster the independence of the UK, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.
Nurses blow away the government fig leaf
17 December 2022
Nurses held a national pay strike on 15 December, the first ever in the history of the Royal College of Nursing, with another to follow on the 20th. So far the government is avoiding meaningful negotiations.
Civil servants fight for decent pay rise
10 December 2022
Government workers across several areas will be on strike this month for better pay. After years of pay restraint they have decided that they have little choice but to act.
Flooring workers win 9 per cent rise
10 December 2022
Workers at vinyl flooring manufacturer Polyflor in Bury, Manchester, have won a pay increase of 9 per cent plus two lump sums of £660 – after originally being offered just 2 per cent.
Government sabotages potential rail deal
9 December 2022
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has slammed the government for scuppering a deal which could have prevented rail strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
Nurses to strike – a big step
8 December 2022
Nurses are about to take strike action for better pay. This is a significant step and the first time the Royal College of Nursing has called a national strike.
Semiconductor industry left hanging after sale order
29 November 2022
The government has failed to protect Newport Wafer Fab, Britain’s biggest silicon chip maker, putting a vital part of our technological infrastructure at risk.
Unprecedented strike action sweeps universities
27 November 2022
Three days of strike action are hitting virtually every university in the country, with action on 24, 25 and 30 November in the biggest walkout that the University and College Union has ever taken.