TGWU
Bus drivers to strike in Norwich
Bus drivers and bosses were today locked in last-ditch talks to avert a one-day strike which could cost the city up to £1m in lost revenue.
Almost 250 bus drivers are ready to strike from 4.30am on Monday after a ballot showed 81% were in favour of taking strike action.
Norwich Evening News reported: Members of the Transport and General Workers Union said they had resorted to the action because of a row over their pay increase for last year.
Guernsey: Airport staff win union recognition with wildcat strike
Over 30 security workers with Group 4 Securicor stopped work on Tuesday and blocked Guernsey airport's departure lounge until bosses signed a recognition agreement with the T&G.
Airlines Flybe and Aurigny were affected by the disruption as flights were grounded for an hour.
Thisisguernsey.com reported on the anger of airport bosses that the surprise action provoked, although for the workers the action rapidly achieved its goals.
Their article stated: AIRPORT security staff who went on strike yesterday have been accused of holding passengers to ransom.
Union call off BA strike action
A planned three-day strike by thousands of British Airways cabin crew has been called off by the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G).
Marathon talks between BA and the T&G had been going on to try to avert the stoppages on Tuesday and Wednesday. BA executives and union leaders said an agreement had been reached on the key issues of pay, pensions and the management of sickness absence. BA will now attempt to reinstate as many flights as possible. Two potential 72-hour strikes earmarked for February have also been called off.
1978-1979: Winter of Discontent
A short history of the of the widespread strike movement that occurred during the winter of 1978-1979 in Britain. The 'Winter of Discontent' marked the largest stoppage of labour since the 1926 General Strike.
The factors that provoked the widespread stoppage of work by thousands of British workers in the winter of 1978-79 began with the Labour government of James Callaghan's attempt to enforce limits on pay rises to curb inflation. Inflation had reached a height of nearly 26.9% in August 1975.
Appendix: Uneasy riders start a big push for better working conditions - Evening Standard
Article from the London Evening Standard 22nd February 1990 about the libertarian direct action union the Despatch Industry Workers Union and the reasons behind recent organising attempts of messengers and couriers in the capital.
5. Those charming chaps at the TGWU
In 1985 the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), then Britain’s biggest union, had a recruitment drive in the courier industry. They succeeded in getting a few members at Hand and Deliver Despatch, but the couriers and the union big-wigs soon fell out, so that was the end of that.
The couriers are revolting! The Despatch Industry Workers Union, 1989-1992
An excellent and inspiring pamphlet about London's Despatch Industry Workers Union (DIWU). A radical, self-organised and direct action-oriented grouping, it lasted three years, and here the author recounts its history and analyses its successes, failures and lessons for other workers.
Written by Des Patchrider, this pamphlet was printed and is available for sale from the Kate Sharpley Library. Our thanks go to the KSL and the author for permission to host this text online.
Iceland workers to strike over Christmas
365 workers at the Iceland distribution depot in North London will begin a series of one and two day strikes starting on the 8th December.
The workers are formally emplyed by DHL, but any pay increases have to be first authorised by Iceland according to the T&G union. The depot, which employs 250 warehouse operatives and 115 drivers supplies food to 180 Iceland stores in London, the South East and East Anglia. The T&G expects the strike to affect stocks in Iceland stores during the run up to Christmas.
Report on London bus strike
Pickets have been out at the Metroline garages and depots since 4.00am this morning with early reports saying the strike has had solid support (TGWU press release).
Pickets have been out at the Metroline garages and depots since 4.00am this morning with early reports saying the strike has had solid support. Jim Buckley, T&G regional industrial organiser, said the mood was generally upbeat as drivers and engineers came out for the first strike on any London bus service for seven years.
London faces first bus strike for seven years
Frustration with a pay offer from London bus operator Metroline which is below the norm for the capital will mean the first bus strike in London for seven years when 2,500 drivers and engineers walk out tomorrow (Tuesday 14th November).
The Transport and General Workers Union today confirmed that last minute talks with Metroline bosses had failed to put more money on the table so the action affecting routes between north and central London will go ahead.
