GMB
Energy workers to ballot for strike action across Britain
Construction and maintenance staff at the giant petrochemical complex in Grangemouth are to be balloted for strike action. Members of the GMB and Unite unions will vote on the issue along with those at seven sites across the UK.
The unions said the action followed a loss of confidence in employer's body the Engineering Construction Industry Association (ECIA). Both sides are currently involved in negotiating changes to the so-called NAECI agreement.
The National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry or NAECI dictates issues including pay and conditions and the use of local labour within the industry.
Striking oil workers burn dismissal letters
In a show of defiance, fired workers burn dismissal letters and continue their wildcat stoppage. Includes a timeline of events.
Oil workers burn their dismissal letters in protest
Thousands of workers across England and Wales have walked out in support of 647 Lindsey oil refinery construction staff sacked for staging unofficial strikes.
It comes as Lindsey workers burned dozens of dismissal letters in protest.
Interview with a disillusioned UK ex-full-time union official
‘RPG’ is an anarchist who worked for trade unions from 1986 until the spring of 2007. He talks to Freedom about the lessons he learned
How did you originally get into union work?
Local government unions submit derisory pay claim
UNISON, Unite and the GMB request a cost of living pay rise for council workers for 2009-10 of just 0.9%.
The unions represent more than one million council staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the claim covers all grades of workers in local government, from refuse collectors to teaching assistants, parks staff to librarians, and comes as local government unions and employers begin binding arbitration over last year's pay claim.
Pharmaceutical workers struggle in Wembley
Workers at the Chemilines pharmaceuticals firm in Wembley, north west London, are stepping up their campaign for decent pay and dignity at work.
They walked out on their second one-day strike last week and have now voted unanimously for a three-day strike at the end of this month. The Chemilines workers, who are mostly Asian women, are hoping to hold a public meeting this Saturday to build support for their cause, followed by a march the Saturday after that.
Work-to-rule on Leeds bins
Refuse collectors and street cleaners in Leeds will be taking industrial action over the Christmas period.
The GMB union said its members would be "working to rule" from 27 December, with Unison members doing the same from 29 December.
More wildcats at Brighton bin depot
Bin workers in Brighton staged a wildcat walkout yesterday and have threatened strikes in the new year in protest of new rounds and redundancies.
Dozens of staff were sent home yesterday after a two-hour sit-in at Brighton and Hove City Council’s Hollingdean depot. Amid mounting tension, GMB union officials said it would be balloting its members on industrial action for the new year.
Scottish council workers vote on new pay offer
150,000 local government workers in Scotland are being balloted to see if they accept an improved pay offer of 3% following two one-day strikes.
Members of UNISON, Unite and the GMB are being consulted on the new offer which was made after their previous "final" offer of 2.5% following the well observed industrial action.
UNISON, the largest union is recommending members reject the offer.
Local government pay: unions cave in
Following a sham "consultation" exercise UNISON negotiators, backed by Unite and the GMB, have called in government arbitrators ACAS to make a binding agreement which members will be unable to vote on.
Following one of the UK's biggest strikes in years, when half a million council workers walked out for two days against a sub inflationary 2.45% pay offer, unions have blocked further action.
Scottish council workers plan further strike action
Scotland faces more council strikes after local government employers refused to increase a 2.5% pay offer.
Union members had hoped local council body Cosla would offer a new one year deal taking inflation into account. However, Cosla said increasing the pay offer in the current economic climate would result in service and job cuts. Meanwhile, hundreds of other civil and public servants voted for strike action which could cause serious disruption to the justice system.
