Bow Missile Site Home of Match Makers Strike

There has been a huge amount of publicity recently about the plan to possibly mount a "surface to air" missile system to protect the Olympic stadium  from suicide bombers on the top of a residential complex.  I drove past the proposed  site this morning and TV cameras were still outside.

I even saw the story featured on "Russia Today" television.

What hasn't been mentioned widely is that the site is actually the old Bryant and May factory in Bow where the famous "matchworkers strike" of 1888 took place.

Hat tip to Mick Hartly for this photo of a helicopter next to the Lexington Tower where the missiles are thought likely to mounted (if the plan goes ahead).

One Barnet UNISON Strike Action 9 Feb 2012

Barnet UNISON are balloting for a further round of strike action to prevent the wholesale privatisation of Council services in their borough. Send the branch messages of support via the website
www.barnetunison.me.uk. During previous strike action when members of the branch finished their picket line duties they went off to volunteer and work unpaid on various local Barnet community projects for the rest of the day.

Dirty Unilever

“Unilever – not as clean as it claims” reveals how the world’s third largest consumer products company pays its CEO Paul Polman 285 times more than the average worker yet is forcing through plans that will see UK workers’ pensions fall by between 20 and 40 per cent. Unite says this is a continuation of a global strategy which has seen the company cut jobs and pursue ruthless outsourcing in order to generate wealth for its executives at the expense of the workforce.

Unite is urging viewers to send a simple message to CEO Paul Polman, which is “it is time for you to talk.

On Wednesday January 18th workers will begin a programme of 11 days of strike action right across the UK operation, hitting production of leading brands from Pot Noodle to Marmite, Persil to Dove. The workers are furious that the company is planning to ditch their final salary pension scheme despite earlier assurance to the workforce that it would be retained and the company’s point-blank refusal to discuss alternatives with the workers’ unions".

Carlsberg Beer Strike banned: Production "essential service"... (Probably)

I've just sent a protest email to the President of the Republic of Lithuania, their Prime Minister and

the CEO of the Carlsberg brewery in Lithuania.

The Lithuanian Courts have apparently "banned" a strike by Carlsberg brewery workers on the
grounds that beer production is an "essential public service". The strike was against the 3rd year of a pay freeze.   

This is not only plain silly but a clear infringement of International Labour Law. The Union has made a complaint to the ILO. Carlsberg, the 4th biggest brewery in the world,  is in danger of becoming a laughing stock and destroying their international brand name.  Click here for further details and to send your own email protest.

"Bread and Roses" Strike Centennial

Hat-tip to UNISONActive for their post on the Centennial anniversary next year of the "Bread and Roses" Textile Factory Strike in the United States.  Check out this link for the AFL-CIO site and video. YouTube clip of the Boston Workmen's Circle A Besere Velt (A Better World) Yiddish Chorus.  Which is quite apt.  The lyrics and tune is quite unforgettable and even haunting.

Family Mosaic UNISON members vote for Strike Ballot

"UNISON members at Family Mosaic Housing Association have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a formal ballot for strike action. The consultative ballot result comes shortly after Family Mosaic’s senior management issued letters of dismissal to all staff members who have not signed new contracts agreeing to substantial cuts in pay and an increase in working hours. 

To date Family Mosaic have refused to revise their current drastic proposals and have shown little regard for the significant impact the proposed pay reductions will have on staff members and their families.

London UNISON Regional Organiser, Colin Inniss stated: ‘The pain of these pay cuts and increased working hours will only be experienced by front line staff, senior management have exempted themselves and protected their pay from any reductions. All care and support and general housing staff will be contemplating a difficult 2012; whilst for senior management it will be a case of business at usual, a point which highlights the opportunistic nature of their proposals. This is something which should worry Family Mosaic’s service users. Imposing harsh changes demoralises a workforce and cannot but affect the quality of service delivery. Whilst UNISON remains committed to achieving negotiated change, management’s intransigence has left us with no alternatives other than to conduct a formal ballot for strike action and to pursue legal action.’

The ballot will involve all UNISON members employed by Family Mosaic in both London and Essex.

For Further information or comment please contact: UNISON Regional Organiser, Colin Inniss on 07703 194 127 / C.Inniss@unison.co.uk
Notes for Editors
1. UNISON’s represents over 60,000 members in the Community and Voluntary sector.
2. Family Mosaic own and manage 23,000 properties across, 27 London Boroughs and in Essex. It has a significant Supported Housing business providing nursing, care and support services to around 4,000 people.
3. Family Mosaic’s operating surplus rose from 19% in 2009/10 to 26% in 2010/11. The Group’s net surplus increase to £34 million in 2010/11, a rise of 4% on the previous year.
4. In July 2011, Family Mosaic finalised the purchase of Hyde Housing’s £14 million-turnover subsidiary, In Touch, which provides services to 4,200 people and includes 120 contracts.
5. In 2010/11, Family Mosaic’s Chief Executive, Brendan Sarsfield’s, annual salary increased from £165,000 to £172,000".

Call You and Yours: Do Strikes Work?

Yesterday lunchtime there was a debate on the Radio 4 programme "You and Yours" on "Do Strikes Work?"

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis was a guest with Ed Holmes, from the hard right Tory think tank "Policy Exchange".

I rang into the programme and was able to say (about 9 minutes in) that strikes can work if they are a last resort and if the membership is behind it.  I pointed out my own example of a "successful" strike. I took part in a month long strike to stop cuts in local housing offices and staff redundancies.  In the end we were able to hammer out a compromise which saved people's jobs. 

UNISON John Burgess also rang in from yesterday's picket line in Barnet.

One of the (many) irritating things that Ed Holmes kept saying during the programme was that public service pensions were "over generous"....  if I work for 40 years the maximum pension I will get is just over half pay and a lump sum around 1.5 x my final salary.  I am currently contributing nearly £200 per month - so is a half pay pension "over generous"? Is he saying it should it be less?

Barnet Strike Action today (with Charity twist)

Good luck to Barnet UNISON who are taking strike action today. Picture is of Regional Secretary Linda Perks addressing last months rally outside Hendon Town Hall. I'm off to Herts today so cannot make it.

"300 UNISON members will be taking one day strike action On Tuesday 18 October as part of a Trades Dispute which concerns the identity of the employer. 

Unlike other strike action there is a twist. 

On the picket line outside the headquarters of Barnet Council (north London business park) UNISON members will stage a short piece of street theatre to demonstrate the dangers of One Barnet Programme to residents, services and staff. There will be two performances at 9am and 9.30 am. 

At 10.30 am a number of strikers will be taking a coach trip across the borough in order to provide help and assistance to a local charity which is desperate need of help. The strikers will spend the rest of the day carrying a number of tasks for the charity. 

UNISON members are calling on the Leader of Barnet Council not to pocket the money he has saved from the strikers and instead donate that money to the Mayor’s Charity

Barnet Young Carers And Siblings 'BYCAS'; The Outward Bound Trust; The Alzheimer's Society 

The day’s activity will end with a Candlelight Vigil outside Hendon Town Hall from 6.30 pm before the Planning Committee begins.  Check out rest of press release here

Vote YES in Public Service Pension Strike Ballot: Fair Pensions for all

Dear Members

Vote YES in Public Service Pension Strike Ballot
Look out for the ballot papers in your post during the next few days asking you to vote for industrial action.

We are asking you to vote YES since the proposed changes are just not fair.

The pensions dispute affects thousands of UNISON members in community and voluntary organisations. This is about your future, about the sort of life you want when you stop working.

Hundreds of employers outside the public sector participate in the Local Government and NHS pension schemes – so that employees transferring into them from the public sector can remain in the schemes.

As a result, thousands of UNISON Community service group members are affected by the changes to public sector pensions that are being proposed by ministers. The proposals will mean those members will pay more for their pension, if they earn more than £15,000 a year. Most of them will work much longer. And changes already imposed mean their pension is already worth less and they will receive less when they retire. 

Not a penny of this major increase in contributions will go towards improving the pension scheme. Instead it will go to the Treasury to pay for the excesses of the bankers. 

The proposed changes will harm Community UNISON members just as much as those in the public sector, and we say enough is enough. 

UNISON is therefore balloting thousands of members in community and voluntary organisations and housing associations, so that they too can have their say. (It may be that some members who are not in a relevant pension scheme have been included in the ballot. This is ok – not every member within any employer has to be affected for all members within that employer to be balloted on that issue.)

Vote YES, and make it clear to ministers that what they are proposing is unacceptable. 

Yours faithfully

John Gray

Branch Secretary 

Pensions strike Ballot: "enough is enough"

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis tells it as it is about why the unions are calling a strike ballot to protect pensions.  "We hope for the best but are planning for the worse.  A last resort... only if negotiations break down.  First Day of Strike Action planned for 30 November 2011.

UNISON Quarriers Strike to Protect Staff

UNISON members in the social care provider "Quarriers" which is one of the biggest Charities in Scotland, went on strike yesterday over management plans to slash pay and conditions for staff.

"The package of cuts means more than 560 staff would have their pay cut by 10% while others would lose up to 23% under the plans.

There are also proposals to cut sick pay, increase pension contributions and see other protections removed.  Stephen Brown, branch secretary of Unison Quarriers, said: "Taking strike action isn't a decision we've taken lightly and we want to be back at work doing what we do best - providing vital services to some of the most vulnerable people in society. The cost of utilities, food and transport are all going up and yet Quarriers expect our staff to take a pay cut of up to 23% in some cases".

Quarriers management had even refused to go to ACAS to try and resolve the dispute.  After the overwhelming strike ballot in favour of strike action they agreed to go to ACAS at the last minute but refused to suspend their plans until after this meeting. Which seems pretty pointless and an act of bad faith.

Stephen Brown is also the chair of the UNISON Community Service Group (I am a NEC member for Community). He is one of the most sensible and thoughtful trade union leaders about and I hope that Quarriers management will get their act together and talk to UNISON and get this matter sorted out.
(picture from strike rally in Glasgow)

Quarriers staff to strike on Tuesday 6 September over 20% pay cuts

Quarriers is a 140 year old (mainly) Scottish Social Care charity.  Yet is planning to cut the pay of its staff by up to 23%?  Not only that but it is refusing to agree to even go to ACAS and try to resolve this dispute!

No wonder UNISON Quarriers branch have voted overwhelmingly for strike action next Tuesday 6 September.  The Scottish Parliament Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie has asked the Health Secretary to intervene  "...You do not get good quality care for our most vulnerable citizens on the cheap... I'm calling on her to intervene and stop local authorities engaging in a race to the bottom in terms of care and quality of care. I would also hope she will get on the phone to Quarriers' bosses and urge them to sit down with their union representatives at Acas to thrash out a proper negotiated settlement."

Well said Jackie.  Pick up the phone Quarrier bosses - it's good to talk.

Nottinghamshire Police civilian staff strike

Good luck to UNISON members of Nottingham Police Civilian staff out on strike today and on Friday over unfair
job cuts.

"(30/08/11) UNISON police staff members in Nottinghamshire are on a 24-hour strike against job losses, with a work to rule to follow.

The members include 999 control staff, PCSOs and detention staff.

Regional organiser Roger Young told the BBC: "It's not about the redundancies in themselves, it's about the way they're doing it.

"We feel that they're wasting resources and potentially identifying people to be made redundant who otherwise would not be so and they may have claims against the force."

General secretary Dave Prentis added: "“The union is full square behind members in Nottinghamshire Police Force taking action over job cuts and restructuring today.

"It is not only their livelihoods on the line – it is community safety."

So far, 170 staff jobs have been lost, while UNISON says a further 746 are at risk.

You can send a message of support to the branch by email: unison@nottinghamshire.pnn.police.uk or via Twitter: @unisonnottspol"

Check out BBC report here, UNISON press release here and Notts Police UNISON branch web site here. (picture from website)