Local authorities in Britain are tasked with meeting local social needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences. They have never been in a worse position to do so. Already ravaged by over ten years of austerity, they now face even bleaker financial challenges – unless there is a fightback. The effects of […]
P&O Ferries has announced plans to cut 734 jobs in Dover and 122 jobs in Hull after it reported a severe downturn in demand. The cuts, affecting more than a quarter of the group’s workforce, come after the firm’s owner, the Dubai-based DP World, had been seeking about £150 million in UK government aid. It […]
A £10 billion financial black hole faces councils, according to a Labour Party report. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a big rise in the demands on social care – for which local authorities are responsible. This, a decade of unchallenged austerity, and a big drop in revenue have created a perfect storm. To avoid whole […]
The higher education sector faces a massive £2.5 billion funding ‘black hole’ which could see thousands of job losses if the government does not step in. A recent report by London Economics, for the University and College Union (UCU), warned that 111,000 fewer UK and 121,000 fewer international first-year students will attend courses in September, […]
Trade union activists from across the south of England came together for a Socialist Party meeting on Zoom on 18 April. Members of the Fire Brigades Union, RMT transport union, PCS civil servants’ union, public sector union Unison and general union Unite were among the reps attending, from the health service, social care, and from […]
Unite the Union reps are pleased to announce that we have won in our dispute at Medway Norse and have ensured a safe environment for staff and the local community (see ‘Refuse collection workers strike’ at socialistpartyorg.uk). Thanks to the strength of workers who stood together and the support of people who signed our petition, […]
Bin workers in Medway, Kent, walked out on 30 March over management’s failure to follow social distancing directives, to provide adequate PPE and the closure of public toilets. The workers issued Section 44 notices (of the Employment Rights Act 1996 ) and stopped work. Talks are now underway with the employer Medway Norse to resolve […]
While the government gives reassurances to the public that ‘we are all in this together’ and they will do ‘whatever it takes’, bosses are doing whatever it takes to protect their profits. Go Ahead South Coast bus company run a network of National Express coaches. Workers were met by managers as they turned up for […]
Like many workplaces, university bosses have come under fire for their slow and inadequate response to the coronavirus crisis. In Southampton, all three campus trade unions wrote to the vice-chancellor outlining our concerns about insufficient information and advice, including on home working and pay for casual staff. We pushed for an urgent meeting, but initially, […]
Over 70 trade unionists packed Southampton Friends Meeting House on 7 March committing to resist any attempts made by the Tory government to remove workers’ right to strike. The meeting brought together trade unionists from the RMT transport union, Communication Workers Union and University and College Union, all currently in dispute in the area. Rob […]
Read this week's #NSSN bulletin no.566: Workers start 2022 on the picket line!
https://shopstewards.net/2022/01/nssn-566-workers-start-2022-on-the-picket-line/
