News

Unite members at the Coca Cola Europacific Partners plant in Wakefield, Europe’s largest, will strike for fourteen days this month after 87 per cent of those voting in a ballot rejected the employer’s offer of a 6 per cent rise.

Rail disputes rumble on

1 May 2023

Two key pay disputes in the rail industry are no nearer settlement. Both Aslef and RMT unions have announced strikes In the face of employer and government intransigence.

Unison calls time on pay body

A historic decision was taken at the Unison Health Care Service Group Conference in Bournemouth on 18 April when members unanimously backed a motion to “call time” on the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) system.

University pay fight resumes

On 17 April University and College Union declared that university members have won a “historic victory” in achieving restoration of their pension.

ULEZ scheme challenged

The High Court has granted a judicial review of the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone...

Pensions reform: new risks

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, speaking at an International Monetary Fund meeting in April, said the pension system needs reform to ensure pensioners receive higher returns. That would seem to mean higher risk and more speculation.

Royal Mail dispute settled [print version]

Royal Mail postal delivery workers have settled their complex pay struggle after 11 months of well supported industrial action.

Food rip-off revealed [print version]

British farmers are being ripped off by an industrial-scale country of origin fraud...

Food fraud rip off revealed

25 April 2023

Farmers Weekly has revealed that British farmers were being ripped off by a large-scale fraud, with huge quantities of foreign pork passed off as British.

Royal Mail pay settled

25 April 2023

Postal delivery workers have settled their lengthy pay struggle. Their union, CWU, will put the agreement to members. Separately, Post Office counter workers have settled their own dispute.

Census data concern

25 April 2023

The census should be a valuable source of data for national planning. But there are serious questions about the validity of the latest results.

Woolwich Ferry workers steam to big victory

30 March 2023

Workers on the Woolwich ferry services across the River Thames have won a hard-fought victory in a struggle which started with the now discredited Briggs Marine, and continued with Transport for London when it took over in January 2021.

School sport: Lionesses hit the net

20 March 2023

Spurred by the England Lionesses, the government has announced support for equal access to school sport, football in particular.

NHS pay victory

16 March 2023

NHS workers have achieved a signal victory in their pay campaign. The improved offerwill be put to members by their unions with a recommendation to accept.

Government delays key rail and road projects

14 March 2023

Transport secretary Mark Harper has announced delays to much needed transport projects. His plans have attracted criticism from industry and unions.

RMT train operating members still in dispute

14 March 2023

RMT members employed by the 14 train operating companies are continuing their long running dispute over pay and conditions.

RMT ballots on new Network Rail offer [updated]

14 March 2023

RMT is conducting a referendum ballot of its Network Rail members after an improved offer from the employer. They have now voted to accept.

BBC journalists strike for local future

13 March 2023

BBC journalists are starting industrial action in defence of their jobs and their local stations. They have called a 24-hour strike on Wednesday 15 March, Budget Day, followed by a work to rule.

BBC Singers sacked – and reprieved

13 March 2023

Musicians, concert goers and radio listeners have united to condemn the BBC’s decision to close the BBC Singers as part of a plan to cut 20 per cent of jobs in BBC orchestras and music ensembles.

NHS pay settlements in Wales and Scotland likely

9 March 2023

NHS workers in Wales and Scotland are close to settling their respective pay claims. The settlements are below the level of inflation, but higher than the original offers.

The fight for rail continues [updated]

27 February 2023

The government’s attempts to end railway pay disputes are meeting continued resistance.

Food shortages: Britain needs a plan

27 February 2023

Capitalism can’t feed us. Shortages of tomatoes and salad vegetables are symptomatic of wider problems in farming.

Nurses escalate action [print version]

From 1 to 3 March Royal College of Nursing members at every employer in England with a strike mandate will be taking action including on night shifts.

No answers on govt rail failure [print version]

Mark Harper, prime minister Rishi Sunak’s new Secretary of State for Transport, failed to give any real indication to those working in rail or to passengers that he will in any way adequately address the industry’s current problems.

Teachers on strike for pay [print version]

On 1 February, teachers in the National Education Union (NEU) joined other public sector workers on strike, the first of six days of national and regional strike action throughout England and Wales.

Universities - UCU pay progress [print version]

Following significant progress in negotiations with university employers on pay, working conditions and pensions, the university staff’s union, the UCU, is suspending for two weeks the remaining seven days of its planned 18 days of strike action.

Doctors to strike over pay

22 February 2023

Junior doctors have voted overwhelmingly to strike in support of their campaign for full pay restoration. They join many other NHS workers fighting for better pay.

Nurses plan to escalate action

22 February 2023

Nurses in England were called on by the RCN to take national strike action for the first time. This is paused for last minute talks with the government.

Royal Mail: Postal workers fight on